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CHRIST LUTHERAN

36 Broad St Suite 100

Oshkosh, WI 54901

OFFICE HOURS

Monday-Friday

9:00 am-Noon

SUNDAYS

9:30 am Worship

10:30 am Coffee Hr.

CONTACT

INFORMATION:

CHURCH OFFICE

Barb Schneider

920.231.6570

clcoshkosh@gmail.com

PASTOR

Rev. Connie Weiss

920.904.5919

pastor.cweiss@gmail.com

PRESIDENT

Kevin Harvot

920.379.0829

July, 2019

Dear Friends,

As I write this, I am watching the CNN documentary on ‘Apollo 11.” Recently, Rick and I had the amazing experi-ence of visiting the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was so overwhelming to see the great vehicles that put humans in space. We walked next to rockets and a shuttle while reading stories of the humans that dared to break through earth’s boundaries to see what’s beyond. But as I am watch-ing the show tonight, I find myself most drawn to the astro-naut's view from space as they looked back at home. From their vantage point, home is not a familiar neighborhood—but rather, home is a planet.

I was one day shy of my 7th birthday when this launch took place. I remember bits and piec-es of the broadcast. I understood that something big was happening. Four days later we would hear the historic words… “That’s one small step for man, one giant step for man-kind.” Think about it. Even in his personal moment as the first person to step on the moon, Neil Armstrong was thinking about humankind - all of us. Some things are just bigger than ourselves - bigger than our country, our politics, our biases and all our differences. When we take a step back and take a closer look at our diverse world, we have the chance to get a glimpse of what also makes us one. We can see another’s joys, struggles, and point-of-view.

We are meant to live in community with one another. But in order for that to work, we must see it from a cosmic lens - the eyes of Christ. When we look at others as Jesus does, our community grows and so does our heart. I can’t tell you how many blessings I have seen with this move! As church, we now reside in a Community Center. Our view of the world is expanding. We see the joys, struggles and viewpoints from a variety of people - from those who work in the non-profits around us and the people who are served by them. Yesterday after worship, I walked outside with Kevin , our council president, to scope out a site for our Outdoor Worship and Picnic on the 7th. We spoke with someone with Growing Oshkosh as we walked through their gardens next door. He offered their space with a beautiful view of the river for our worship service. Our community is expanding as we not only put out the welcome mat but are being welcomed by new friends. This is the space where God resides. These are holy spaces where people really see each other, come together and unite. If you haven’t had the chance to come see us, consider stopping by for our outdoor worship ser-vice where we will give thanks for all that God is doing as we take one more small step for humankind -- all in the name of Christ!

Your Partner in Christ,

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:4-5

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May, 2019 Report

Total Offerings: $4,884.23

Other Revenue: $1,141.22

Total Expenses: $13,043.13

Net Profit/(Loss): ($7,017.68)

Year-to-Date Totals

Total Offerings: $24,149.50

Other Revenue: $33,207.94

Total Expenses: $74,089.05

Net Profit/(Loss): ($16,731.61)

Your council is addressing several issues: 1. Our computer and\or computer software for the office. As this is the age of electronics we need to be sure that what we use is workable and secure. 2. Committee restruc-ture\rebrand. We are looking to involve more of the congregation, have a list of the responsibilities, and set short term goals. 3. Outreach. The plan is to do a stewardship program in Fall along with Trunk or Treat, summer potlucks. With all of this in mind, summer is becoming a busy time for the council.

2019 CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS Kevin Harvot President

Ron Lippold Vice President

Susie Smith Secretary

Ryan Birschbach Treasurer

Gloria Heidl

Barbara Shew

Summer Giving

Campaign

Since we know that summer can be a busy time, we have enclosed an offering enve-lope with this newsletter to encourage members to continue to give even if you are not present at worship. This month, we’ve placed our address on the outside of the envelope to make it easy to mail. A slip for you to share your giving infor-mation is inside it.

Thank you for your support!

We’re looking for extra people willing to help

us set up before 9:30 worship on Sunday

mornings. Please call the church office if avail-

able … 920.231.6570

SUNDAY JULY 21st 10:45 am - Lower Level

The council will provide a financial update.

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Connor Bricco 3

Geoffrey Grill 7

Betty Boheen 8

Jaxon Van Ravenstein 15

Michael Priebe 16

Betty Hawley 17

Pastor Connie Weiss 17

Carrie Costello 18

Nancy Neubauer 20

Treston Eckstein 23

Steven Stark, Jr. 25

Harry Schuessler 26

Roxane Schmidt 27

Barbara Frevert 28

Kim Gardner 31

This month, we celebrate the

following birthdays...

Did we miss your birthday or get it wrong?

Please contact the office to let us know!

Email us at clcoshkosh@gmail.com or call

920-231-6570.

Join us as we worship outside on the 7th in the

Growing Oshkosh parking lot on Bay Shore

Drive behind the Hooper Community Center.

Then stay for a fun picnic in the back lot of the

Community Center. Bring a dish to pass or just

bring yourself. All are Welcome!

Sunday, July 14th

5:30 pm

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

1100 E. Murdock Avenue

Community ELCA churches will once again be

coming together for an evening prayer service

and picnic over at St. Andrew’s. We will be wor-

shipping outdoors for a half hour. Then, we will

gather for a fun picnic dinner. Christ Lutheran

will be providing the salads again this year. A

sign up sheet is in the Church office.

We hope to see you there!

EVENING PRAYER & PICNIC

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Choir Notes

The CLC choir gathered for a picnic on Wednesday, June 12th. It turned out to be

another one of those soggy June days. Despite the weather, members came and we had a re-ally nice time of food and fellowship. Choir is currently on break and will resume again the first of September. We are looking for new choir members to join in September who enjoy praising God with our gift of music.

Worship & Music Committee

The Music and Worship Committee met in June to finalize our summer worship schedule. We will have our an outdoor worship service on Sunday, July 7th. It will be at the church with a picnic to follow. Our liturgy setting will change to the familiar Setting #4 on that Sunday. We are all enjoying our intimate weekly worship services at the new home of Christ Lutheran.

Save the Dates for “Let the choice be mine”- a 3-week Sunday morning forum in the lower level following worship. Snacks and refresh-ments will be provided.

September 29th

PROTECTING YOUR CHOICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Helpful Record Book

October 6th

PLANNING FOR YOUR FUNERAL Planning Booklet and Resources

October 13th

WHAT COMES NEXT? Grieving, Estate Settlement, Questions

These forums will focus on getting important wishes made known and personal records or-ganized so that we, as individuals, can have all our choices made known regarding sickness, death and all the things that family encoun-ters following a loved one’s passing.

This series we are offering is meant to provide information to help us learn what we can do to prepare for the future. Getting our affairs in order offers peace of mind for you and will serve as a real a gift for your family.

The presentations will be held at 10:45 (after service) and last about 1 hour at the Hooper Center. All are welcome at one or all sessions. More information will be in next month’s newsletter.

Let the Choice be Mine

A 3-Week Forum Series this Fall

The 8th Day Project provides a vibrant, non-traditional worshipping community of people who share a vision for social justice and spiritu-al practices. 8th Day meets every Sunday night in Oblio’s Lounge. Everyone is welcome!

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Limited spots are available for an exciting trip to the Holy Land March 23rd-31st. Pastor Connie and her husband Rick

will be going on this trip. If you have an interest in attending or would like to find out more about this pilgrimage, check

out the tour site at:

https://www.mejditours.com/open-tour/ecsw-pilgrimage/

We are so happy to share that our friend and

bookkeeper Jerri Schmidt received her con-

verted van in June. She was blessed to be

awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Depart-

ment of Workforce Development for the con-

version expense of the van. Jerri is so thankful

for everyone who has been so supportive!

There is so much to share with you about this place

and time we live in. Currently, there are over 200 chil-

dren in Oshkosh who are homeless. As a pastor, I am

inundated with people in need. Poverty is so real in our

city. It’s an overwhelming subject that must not scare

us. Instead, we need look at it as a calling from God—

or shouting, if you will. For, Jesus had a lot to say about

living among and also helping our neighbors in need.

This initiative, Fill the Gap Oshkosh, I and others began

through Christ Lutheran is gaining speed and the atten-

tion of our community. We have held 4 workshops that

not only are educating people of faith from our com-

munity - but also is bringing us together in dialogue to

see how we can truly work as one body in Christ.

Although my grant has run out to help fund mission

work through our church, I am confident that God is

calling me and this congregation to a more refined fo-

cus in helping to fill the gap for needs not being met.

So, I’ll be staying in touch and hope that together we

can continue carry out God’s mission in this new place

and time. If you’d like to join us at our next monthly

meeting, we’ll be in the Hooper Board Room on...

Monday, July 8th at 1:30 pm

- Your Partner in Mission, Pastor Connie

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Articles and information due in the church office

Thursday, June 20th

This year, we are selling every other weekend through the end of September. The remaining dates we will have our booth open are:

• July 13

• July 27

• August 10

• August 24

• September 7

• September 21

Our Saturdays have at least one person signed up to coordinate the sale. We still could use additional helpers on some of the Saturdays. There is a sign-up sheet on the credenza in the parish office.

The other assistance we need is to have people bake items to be sold. There is also a list of suggest-ed ingredients that you could purchase to help oth-ers defray the costs of the goods they bake. Baked goods can be dropped off in the parish office on Fri-days before 1:00 pm.

Some suggestions of donations include:

• Flour (regular sifted or self-rising)

• Sugar (white, brown, powdered)

• Cake mixes (yellow, chocolate, lemon, white, spice)

• Baking chips (chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter)

• Nuts (chopped pecans or walnuts)

• Vanilla extract

• Instant pudding (Vanilla, chocolate, lem-on, pistachio)

• Zip-loc bags (gallon or quart size)

Sermons are now being streamed live on Facebook. Search for Christ Lutheran Church Oshkosh, WI. Like this site to see the sermons live, or listen later.

An Invitation for Our Quilters: Join Us!

We’ve set up the tables in our new space and the ladies have gotten busy! They’ve even begun to tie blankets. If you have spare time to join us, we would welcome your help!

Contact Barbara Shew to volunteer

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July Sunday Volunteers

Date Reader Ushers Communion

Assistant

Offering

Counters Close

July 7 Debbie Reichenberger

Needed Susie Smith Debbie Reichenberger Barbara Shew

Ryan Birschbach

July 14 Susie Smith Needed Needed Jackie Boese Susie Smith

Kevin Harvot

July 21 Chris Esselman

Needed Needed Mark Arend Gloria Heidl

Gloria Heidl

July 28 Needed Needed Needed Debbie Reichenberger Barbara Shew

Ron Lippold

Coffee Hour sponsors and volunteers are also needed to complete the schedule.

Anyone wishing to volunteer, please sign up on the volunteer sheet located on the credenza in the offices. All Sunday readings are printed in advance, so you may take your readings home to look over before you read on your designated day. You may also call the church office, and someone will assist you in signing up for service.

Thanks to all who continue to volunteer!

Altar Guild Volunteer for July: Jackie Boese