COVID-19 RESOURCES • DAILY DEVOTIONS • FAMILY GAMES • CALL PROCESS UPDATE

ConnectionAPRIL 2020

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PASTOR’S NOTE“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

Some of you may remember a fun little game called “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”. The challenge is to connect any actor to the actor Kevin Bacon in six movies or less, connecting actor/actress to actor/actress until you reach Kevin. The game is based on the idea that there are only six degrees of separation or fewer between any two people.

I like to joke that in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, we have only one degree of separation, especially if you are a professional church worker! One degree . . . until now. Now we have six

feet of separation due to the coronavirus, or COVID-19. Not only are we to maintain those six feet of separation, but we are unable to gather in large groups. I remember my surprise when I first heard that groups larger than 500 were forbidden. Very quickly that number was reduced to 50 and then to 10.

I came home from Uganda to fourteen days of separation in quarantine. We all faced separation and closure dates focused at first on April 2, then 22, and as of this writing, very likely 30. And we faced and continue to face the reality that, during this time, we cannot physically gather as the Body of Christ. That doesn’t mean we have stopped being that Body of Christ. It means, as one Internet post put it, that the Church has been deployed. We are scattered. But nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.

One important aspect of our life together as a Chritian community is the opportunity to commune. For a time, this sacred gift that we value so highly will remain a sacred gift from which we will refrain . . . with longing . . . for a time. Fortunately for us, our God is not stingy with His gifts and His grace. He does not provide just one means of connecting us with Himself. His Word is living and active. His Word is still able to go forth through the various means He has given us: video, audio, print, digital, etc. So let’s get connected deeply to God’s Word in this time of physical separation. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Concordia, we miss you. Concordia, we are you. Concordia, we are richly blessed in Christ. Let me close with just one of those blessings. It is a reworking of the name of this disease by our Sr. Pastor Emeritus Walt Schoedel.

COVID-19

C -Christ

O - Over

V -Viruses

I - Infection

D - Diseases

19 - Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous, Concordia. Your God is with you! Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

PASTOR MEGGERS • DMEGGERS@CKHOME.ORG

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PASTOR’S NOTE

SHARE LOVE

PASTOR SCHULTZ • JSCHULTZ@CKHOME.ORG

SHARON EMA • SEMA@CKHOME.ORG

God is always good. Even in this time when everything seems to be turned upside down, He truly cares for us and is working for our good. This is the Christian hope: that Jesus Christ has overcome sin, death, and the power of the devil, and He is in charge. I thank God for this reality and for this hope we share as we work together in God’s Kingdom.

I would like to highlight a few ways in which God is providing His Word. First and foremost, He is providing His Word through our ministry as digital content is released each week. Through digital worship, Bible studies, phone calls, Zoom meetings, emails, and social distancing visits, the matchless name of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed. We trust that God’s Word is powerful and that it never returns void.

But we also affirm that God’s Word is going out through you. It has been encouraging to hear so many positive reports and stories from our community. Through shopping visits, donations to local food

pantries, checking in on neighbors, and using your unique talents to help others, you are letting your lights shine as you share God’s love through your deeds. It is encouraging to see the Body of Christ in action. God is indeed providing His Word through you.

And right now, this Word will sustain us. Like you, I am craving God’s presence in the Lord’s Supper. However, our church will not celebrate this sacramental meal again until we feel that it is safe for our community to do so. In everything, we continue to seek the good of those around us, looking forward to when we can celebrate this sacrament again face-to-face. Until then, we are confident that God is found not only in the sacramental Word but also in the sharing of His spoken Word.

Psalm 145 says, “God satisfies the desires of every living thing.” He is providing for us. Hang in there, Concordia. God is in control, and He cares for you. Your church family cares for you as well! You are loved. I look forward to when we can get together and praise God again soon!

God loves you dearly! We are all His dearly loved children. The direction is for us to walk in the way of His love. Love one another as Christ loved you. “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, walk in the way of love.” Ephesians 5: 1-2

While it may seem that love is limited right now by the restrictions on close contact, maintaining this distance from others at this time is a way of loving them. We practice social distancing, wash our hands thoroughly, cover our coughs and sneezes, and stay at home out of love for another. We do this for others. We are called to show God’s love right now in a unique way, by limiting the spread of the virus, thereby showing our love for those around us, for healthcare workers, and for our communities.

There are other ways of walking in the way of God’s love. We are looking for sewers willing to make masks for health care workers, our church members or the community. We will provide materials and

pattern. Email Kristin Anderson at kanderson@ckhome.org if available.

Thank you for calling your friends and family and checking in with them. Thank you to those making cards for those who can’t see visitors or family. Thank you to our prayer team for interceding for the needs of others. Thank you to those who have shared their experiences of joy on the Joy Journal on our website. Share the love and share the joy at CKhome.org/JoyJournal!

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GENEROSITY DURING COVID-19

KRISTIN ANDERSON •CHEIF OPERATING OFFICER • KANDERSON@CKHOME.ORG

Your financial gifts to support what God is doing at Concordia make ministry possible every day of the year. Your gifts to Concordia are incredibly important, especially now as we sharpen our focus, reaching out into our communities as the hands and feet of Jesus in these extraordinary times.

In this new season of ministry, our church is serving all ages in a new way. In addition to weekly online worship, our Home Ministry Portal offers many other resources, including devotions, community resources, online prayer support, children’s ministry activities kids can do from home, Confirmation instruction, special needs study and more. We are continuing to facilitate Bible study and working to meet the needs of our church family and our community in every way we can.

All of these things require financial resources. Our goal is to keep as many of our staff employed at their current salaries as we realistically can. I encourage you to take a moment right now and make a gift to support ministry at Concordia.

God calls us to be generous and to love our neighbors. Generosity isn’t just about financial resources; we should strive to be generous with our time and talents as well. So many of you have stepped up to help, dropping off needed items for Feed My People, making cards for those isolated, making deliveries and phone calls, sending love to kids you teach, and showing love in many other ways. Thank you!

These times of physical distancing require that we go about sharing the Gospel differently, challenging each of us to think outside the box. We’d love to hear how you are being generous! Because generosity always bring JOY, please share your stories on our Joy Journal at CKhome.org/joyjournal.

Thank you for your gifts to His Kingdom work, and may we all find ways to be His salt and light in the days ahead.

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11

Visit our website at CKhome.org

Text to give at 1-314-207-0163

Mail a check to the church office at: Concordia Lutheran Church 505 S Kirkwood Rd Kirkwood, MO 63122

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GOD’S WORDJESSICA CRAWFORD • JCRAWFORD@CKHOME.ORG

Just a few weeks ago, the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to be just a story on the news. It was unsettling to hear the numbers increase around the world and even in some corners of our own country, but it had yet to become tangible. In the blink of an eye, though, the virus arrived in our communities and changed the way we live our lives, much faster than any of us would have expected.

As we all face very real and growing fear and anxiety, I offer you these ten Bible verses to meditate on. Read these verses. Pray these verses. Repeat these verses until they are firmly planted in your hearts. Remember, God always has been and always will be our source of strength and peace during uncertain times.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate

us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels

nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our

worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s

love.”

Romans 8:38-39

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he

is my helper.” Psalm 118:6-7

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be

afraid?” Psalm 27:1

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for

tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough

trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound

mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help

in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do

not fear; I will help you.’ ‘Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”

Isaiah 41:13-14

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will

strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my

righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Mark 5:36

“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

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We are creatures of habit! Do you miss “your spot” at church, your morning routine, or working in your office? It’s been a struggle for me adjusting to this new normal.

While our days are out of whack, it’s important for us to maintain as much structure and routine as possible. Take heart, for God does not rest, even when schools and offices and whole cities are shutting down. He is still working for and through you! To encourage yourself with this truth, I encourage you to start every morning with a daily devotion.

The Bible App is a free devotion app that can bring a little routine and comfort back into your life. They have thousands of impactful, three- to seven-minute devotions on many topics.

Are you missing social interaction? Devotion plans are typically one week long, great for following with family and friends. You can share your thoughts on the devotion through private comments on the app. This is also a great source for Bible studies! Follow a devotion plan, then discuss it as a group through Zoom, FaceTime, or phone calls.

If you need help setting this up, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at ndehn@CKhome.org.

Senior Youth will be doing daily devotions each week. To stay up to date on which one’s we are doing, visit CKhome.org/article/senior-youth or reach out to me.

DAILY DEVOTIONSNATHAN DEHN • YOUTH DIRECTOR • NDEHN@CKHOME.ORG

WORSHIP ARTSBRENDAN KNORP • DIRECTOR FOR THE WORSHIP ARTS • BKNORP@CKHOME.ORG

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

I’m not going to lie: My first week of quarantine was a pleasant change of routine. Because my daughter, Evie, has a weak immune system, the Knorp family went into lockdown on March 15. As of the day I write this, I’m on Day 17 with no definite idea as to when things will change.

This week in particular, though, I really began to miss normal church ministry—getting together with staff and musicians, working on songs for the upcoming weeks, rehearsing with musicians, and most of all, gathering with everyone on the weekend for worship. I think the Home Worship videos we’ve put together for the past couple of weeks have been a blessing to our church and helped the congregation stay connected while we are physically distanced, but they are not the “real thing.”

My commitment to Concordia is to continue to create content that helps you spend time each week in God’s word, preaching, a song or two, and prayer. Each week, the pastors and I get more ideas for new ways to add to the experience. There are no protocols or roadmaps for this, so we are winging it a bit, but know that we are putting our best efforts into this and we will get through this period of isolation together. I know this much: When this passes and we are able to fill the pews again, we are going to have one awesome belated Easter! Until then, consider that opening verse from Paul’s letter to the people in Rome.

I also want to share the news that Phillip Magness, our Director for Sanctuary Worship, informed me he is making the transition to pursue a new ministry position and will not be back with us when we reopen our doors. Phillip has brought excellent leadership to worship in the Sanctuary. His work with the choir, brass, and bells and his selections for music and liturgy have breathed new life into those services. His talents as an organist, pianist, and singer will also be greatly missed. Please keep him and his family in your prayers as they take these next steps. His daughter, Caitlin, will also be leaving, and her work as an Administrative Assistant will be missed. Please know that we will be working diligently to identify who our next director will be.

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FAMILY ACTIVITIESIt can be hard to lose our normal routine and even harder to adjust to a new one. Keeping ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy is always important, but especially important in this isolating time.

Here are some ideas to bust boredom and keep ourselves healthy:

• Make a schedule for your day

• Read God’s Word

• Make a list of prayer requests and add to it as needed

• Compile your favorite recipes into a cookbook

• Create your own movie

• Learn a new card game

• Read a book - Start a family book club

• Ask someone to be your pen pal (or multiple people)

• Practice writing in calligraphy

• Camp out in your backyard or living room

• Teach your pet new tricks

• Learn origami

• Make cards to send to those who are lonely

• Make a music video

• Tie-dye shirts or pillowcases

• Make Play-Doh

• Call someone every day

REBECCA SCHULTZ • CHILDREN’S MINISTRY ASSISTANT • RSCHULTZ@CKHOME.ORG

Have a dance party

Bust out the board games Go for a walk

Bake a yummy dessert

Create some art with chalk

Try a new recipe

Play a sport in your yard

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While we are in the midst of uncertain times, please know that the Call Committee continues to move forward in the search for our new Sr. Pastor meeting weekly via Zoom. Below are the activities that have transpired over the past few months as well as our plan moving forward which is aligned to the timeline previously communicated:

• February: Submitted the list of nominees to the Missouri District President for confirmation of who will be allowed to stand

• Mid-March: Received the approved list of nominees back from the District along with comprehensive profiles of each candidate

• Late-March/April: Call Committee meeting weekly via Zoom to discuss each candidate in depth with the goal to narrow down the list in order to reach out to the top candidates the committee feels align with the Pastor Profile

• May/June (tentative based on current events) - Schedule initial video interviews

The Call Committee appreciates everyone’s continued prayers as we discern God’s will and wait for him to reveal the one he has already chosen as Concordia’s next Sr. Pastor. As always, if you have any questions about the call process, please email callprocess@CKhome.org.

This summer, kids will grab their hard hats and head out to the construction site to discover that skyscrapers aren’t the only things that need a rock solid foundation. Kids will discover that when the storms of life come, anxiety sets in, when they feel unworthy- Jesus’ love provides a foundation that will last!

Our theme for this summer is based on Philippians 1:6 - “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. “

Volunteer Recruitment runs March-April. Children registration will open at the beginning of May. We will be asking for volunteers for bible study leaders, bible study assistants, snack team, craft team, recreation leaders, registration, decorations, music team, technology team, and more! We will set the number of children we can serve based on the number of volunteers we recruit. This will ensure we provide a safe,

positive, and rewarding experience for both children and volunteers. We are committed to a well-organized, structured program for volunteers! VBS is July 13-17, from 9:00am-noon each day. We will offer training options for all who serve.

We will be monitoring COVID-19 and will update the church on how this might impact the event when we get closer to the date.

Volunteer at CKhome.org/VBS

CALL PROCESS UPDATE

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

KEITH FATZINGER • CALLPROCESS@CKHOME.ORG

REBECCA SCHULTZ • RSCHULTZ@CKHOME.ORG