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by Deb Wolterstorff
“Lord, you are more powerful than the roar of the ocean. You are stronger than the waves of the sea.” Psalm 93:4 Vacation Bible School (VBS) is just around the corner!!! Ahhhhh….here we go….a time of excitement, singing, stories, games, crafts, science, friends, connections and so much fun. And VBS provides a wonderful space for all of this to happen. It’s a crazy, fast paced time together but most of all, it is Holy time together. This year’s VBS, we are doing “Make Waves.” The kids will be learning about how what they do today can change the world around them. We will learn how God is our master creator…we were made in God’s image, to take care of the world and show others what God is like. We will learn how to “Catch the Wave”…to make waves by showing Jesus’ love to others. We will learn how to “stay afloat”…to learn how Jesus is our life Preserver, how God sent Jesus to make a way for us to be with God now and forever. We will learn how to “make a splash”…to make a splash in someone else’s life by showing them the love of Jesus. And finally, we will learn how God’s Spirit can help us make a ripple effect throughout the world around us. We start in 2 weeks! Can’t wait! Wednesday nights July 6-Aug 3 from 5:30-7pm with a light optional meal at 5:00 for those who would like one. Register your kids NOW! Deb
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By Trish Blomquist
“I Come to the Garden Alone” always reminds me that when we are stressed, sad, mourning, or just having a bad day God is letting us know that there is a place of solitude for us. A garden can be a spiritual retreat from a noisy world and hurried people. For me, that’s the Community Garden here at Christ the King. The Community Garden has many facets – developing friendships, planting and watching plants grow, harvesting the produce and then giving the “fruits of your labor” to the local Food Shelf. In this way, we become “Community”. We also find that the purpose of the Community Garden is to not only grow a sense of community within but also to build relationships, connect with neighbors and provide food. When working in the garden we see God’s gifts – those to be shared with others. Author Alfred Austin stated that “the Glory of Gardening can be defined as hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed the body and the soul.” Nurturing a Garden is also about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. In working with soil, plants and water, we learn about God’s call to be co-creators of life, beauty and joy. Watching the blossoms grow and the fruit develop knowing that it will feed someone is a gift from God. Viewing a garden can fill you with peace and happiness. For me it brings joy when looking at the green vegetation and having the opportunity to “play” in the dirt. Those who organize, volunteer in and cultivate community gardens often see grace in each shoot, pod and bloom. In summing up God’s purpose of a community garden, we find friendship, solitude, community, grace, peace, serenity, beauty and also food for the community. Consider joining the Community Garden crew on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 – you will be blessed with God’s gifts. Spirit of God, you bring forth order and beauty. Bless the gardens of the world that feed both bodies and souls. Amen Trish Blomquist-Chair, Community Garden  By Pastor Sarah Anderson
This past Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, the day when God’s presence, in the form of a mighty wind, came to be among us forever. Ever since the rushing wind of the Spirit that first Pentecost day, God’s movement has been stirring in all of creation. In fact, the Spirit is moving in you as you read this, and because the Spirit moves within you, you are granted the confidence and courage to step into new experiences. Maybe it feels like a new experience to once again engage in our faith community after a pandemic left us isolated for so long. We are created to be in community - to interact, to laugh, to debate, to support one another, to share hard truths and so much more! In Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, Life Together, he writes, “The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us.” To be in genuine community sometimes takes courage, but I know you have it in you. One way to beCOURAGEous in community this week is to come out for Wednesday’s Pizza Night. You could even take your courage one step further and volunteer (click here to sign-up). You might even invite a friend or neighbor to join you for the evening. Yes, the night is centered around pizza, but it is so much more. It will be a Godspeed for Amity as we thank her for her service as the Director of Youth and Family Ministry before she and Alyssa prepare for their move to Michigan. It will be a time to be in God’s creation, enjoying the sunshine and the shade, the flowers blooming, and a cool breeze. It will be a time to share highs and lows of your week as you socialize with others. It will be a time to listen to each other. It will be a time for fun and fellowship, and it will be a time when God’s presence is among us. |
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