Men’s Bible Study
Last month, the men who participate in the Panera Bible Study decided to begin reading through and discussing an Old Testament book together, to get a perspective on the story of King David from the Chronicler’s point of view. Join us Saturday, January 14, at 9:00 a.m. at the Panera Bread restaurant on High Street at Weisheimer as we being to read 1 Chronicles. We will begin after the genealogies are completed, in chapter 10.
Tavern Theology
After taking December off, we will reconvene Tavern Theology on Tuesday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m. The group has decided to talk about some of the hard sayings of Jesus during the next few meetings—if there is a saying of Jesus that you have found particularly troubling or difficult to understand, please “bring it with you” and we will try to understand the law and gospel that is present and what it means for us today. We will gather again at the Crest Tavern—although, we are considering moving to another place without a loud juke box. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Apply NOW for Endowment Allocations
Applications are now available in the narthex or church office for allocations from the Outreach Endowment of Clinton Heights Lutheran Church. Deadline for submission of applications to the church office is Friday, February 3, 2012. They will be reviewed by the church’s Endowment Committee at its February meeting.
Allocations are made from interest earned on the principal in the endowment. According to endowment guidelines, endowment income can be used: to assist programs designed for persons in our parish area who are in spiritual or economic need; to provide seminary or college scholarships for student members of the congregation; to assist with capital projects of the church; to help with new projects of the Southern Ohio Synod and to assist with special missions of the ELCA.
Income from the church’s other endowment, the Current Use Endowment, is used to support the annual operating budget. Allocations are made at the discretion of the Endowment Committee, which is comprised of five members appointed by the Church Council president. Additional information about these endowments and how to make a gift is available in brochures in the narthex and church office.
What’s Your Story – CHLC Making a Difference for Members
The stewardship committee is seeking stories about the ways in which Clinton Heights has made
a difference in the lives of members and our community. If you have a story to share or know
someone who does, please contact Mary Ellen Franzen at 546-9305 or wittgrad@att.net.
As a member of the Stewardship Committee, I met with Nick and Katie Bates. Here is what I
learned:
In 2005, Nick and Katie Bates were searching for a church. Through a friend who was working
at CRC and who had met Pastor Wolfe, they came to worship at CHLC. Not knowing in which part of Columbus they would eventually settle, Nick and Katie decided that Clinton Heights would be a starting point in their search for a church home. Nick, from a Missouri Synod background but intending to start Trinity Lutheran Seminary as well as law school was, among other things, hoping to find a sponsoring church as required by the Seminary. Katie was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. She felt a personal struggle in deciding whether to join a church of a different denomination. What they found at Clinton Heights was a comfortable fit with many church members and a church with a strong history of supporting seminarians. Katie, knowing that it would most likely be in a Lutheran community that she and Nick would make their life together, decided to join. She stated that she does not do things halfway nor does she sit on the sidelines.
When asked in what way they had seen Clinton Heights make a difference in the community, Nick told of their work with the CHLC youth. In preparation for the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans just after the devastating hurricanes, Nick and the youth worked at the CRC Sunday Breakfast program. There the youth had the assignment to learn at least two things about each person that they met. Nick was amazed at the impact that the breakfast goers had on the youth and how the youth carried what they learned into their work in New Orleans. Nick feels that it was not the return of football to the stadium that started the revitalization of that city but the work of the youth from the National Gathering.
What was it that Nick saw the youth learn? It was the ability to be comfortable while being uncomfortable. The youth learned that they were not at CRC or in New Orleans “to give help” but instead to listen to the people that they were with and from the listening, the help would come. In addition, the work done by CHLC members at the YWCA Family Center was cited as another way our church makes a difference. The Bates noted that church members make a conscious effort to interact, to see the human faces of the people staying at the Center. There is no “rescue you” mentality but rather a “we are all part of a community so we help each other” philosophy.
That ethic is reflective of Nick and Katie’s understanding of stewardship. Using the Bible verse “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8) to guide them, they see many opportunities to share God’s love and mercy in the world. Nick feels that where he sees suffering, he seeks to see how he can be the hands and feet of God. Katie emphasized that as long as they have something, they have something to share.
By Mary Ellen Franzen on behalf of the Stewardship Committee.
Welcome to WELCA!
January Meetings:
Mary Martha Circle – Tuesday, January 10th , 7:00 p.m.
Bible Study: Michelle Walton Hostess: Martha Ratliff
Lydia Ruth Circle – Wednesday, January 11th, 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study: Eda Jane Spivey Hostesses: Helen Ish and Evelyn Lay
New Year’s Resolutions: How about resolving to come to as many circle meetings as you can in 2012? We have great discussions, good refreshments, and many opportunities to serve our church and our community. Help us celebrate the 25th anniversary of WELCA in 2012.
On December 3rd twenty-six women (plus Sammie Bates!) gathered for a general meeting and Christmas program. The program was called Come Away for a While…Rest and Rejoice! The readings and music provided by the women of Clinton Heights gave us a relaxed, refreshing beginning to the Christmas season. Thank you to everyone who planned and participated in the program and who provided the delicious refreshments. It was a blessed time for us all.
Kroger Community Rewards has given us another wonderful donation of $318.88 for this quarter. Thank you to everyone who signed up for this program. These funds make it possible for WELCA to support many important organizations and our church without the need for constant fundraising activities. Thank you, Kroger!
Our Election Day Bake Sale made $201.50 for the CRC Food Pantry. We were sold out before 2:00 p.m.! Thank you to all who made those irresistible baked goods. 2012 will be a big election year so get all your recipes ready for another bake sale benefit event.
Twelve Clinton Heights women met on Tuesday, December 13th for dinner and conversation at Marone’s on Bethel Road. This purely social event gave us a much-needed breather during the Christmas rush. Thank you, Nancy Labuhn, for organizing everything.
Dottie and Jim Frashier gathered all the hats and gloves from our Advent tree and corralled all the stuffed animals underneath it. They report that the generous people of Clinton Heights donated 74 pairs of gloves, 11 scarves, 64 hats, 7 hat and glove sets and 111 stuffed animals for the children of our LSS food pantry clients. Thank you, everyone, for such an outpouring of love at Christmas.
WELCA wishes you a blessed New Year. Rev. 21:5 …Behold, I make all things new.
