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Mt Carmel Lutheran Church
1701 Fredericks Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
805-544-2133
Sunday Services: 8:45am and 11:00am
Office Hours: 8:30am - 3pm weekdays
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A message from Pastor Valerie...
Hello Faithful Sisters and Brothers,
 
The Young Clergy Women Project, the amazing group I mentioned recently, has been having an interesting conversation this week that I wanted to include you all in.  Rev. Elizabeth Grasham, the pastor at Heights Christian Church, posted this question on Monday morning:
 

Serious Question: What do you think the church is supposed to DO?
Plenty of non-profits exist that serve the marginalized in the world.
Meetup and community activities can help you find groups of people to "fellowship" with.
Professional and amateur musicians are ubiquitously available to listen to and experience beautiful art that makes you contemplative.
The Internet is chock full of TEDTalk style teaching that challenges and informs you.
You can find places to teach you meditation and centering techniques - yoga, raki, etc
You don't need to go to church to experience any of that. Many times, the church doesn't even do those things well when they try.
So, what is the church's DISTINCT calling? What about church is specific and NECESSARY to the world?


It is a good question.  One important for us all to wonder about, I think: WHY are we the church?  And what do we DO?
 
Here are a sample of answers from young clergy women across denominations and from around the world:
 
  • The church is supposed to communicate the reconciliation between God and humankind that God has initiated in Jesus to humankind, to worship and praise God for that truth, and to encourage reconciliation among humanity.

 

  • Right now, my answer is that the church is called to be an inbreaking of the realm of God in this world. To be the place where grace is practiced, where the image of God is recognized, where the Body of Christ can seek healing together. The church is called to be the place where barriers are broken, and all people can break bread together in compassion.

 

  • Worship God. Not just contemplate, but actively praise and honor our Creator. The church creates a space for a relationship with the Triune God to be cultivated. That's the one thing I can think of that we do that nobody else does.

 

  • The church is called to gather around the story of God and God's people, hear it, connect with it, and let it change them.

 

  • I'm not sure it's about what we experience, or about what we "do" as an institution, but about who we are (and the doing flows out from that...).

 

  • For me, the church isn't just a social advocacy group, a meet-up, or a education center. The church is a thin place, where we wrestle with mystery, feel rather than understand the presence of the past colliding with the present & future, and don't have to have all the answers even while we surround ourselves with wisdom. I don't always come out feeling peaceful like I think I'm supposed to with meditation, but I (almost) always come away feeling like an integral part of something so much bigger than I could ever really conceive.

 

  • Yes -- it's orienting ourselves and our lives toward the Kingdom of God. Where we recognize that the Spirit strengthens and sustains us, that Christ dwells in us, and that everything we do should be rooted in God's love.

 

  • I heard Nadia Bolz-Weber speak this weekend & she talked about this a bit- that there are lots of things our culture will take care of (things you listed- fellowship, care of marginalized,etc). Then she said: The culture will never proclaim the Gospel, administer the sacraments, and proclaim the forgiveness of sins--- that's the job of the Church. That's our job.
    The institution (how we do church now) can come and go--- but the Church will never die.

 

  • We are called to share the good news, Christ and him crucified. That comes first, making disciples and baptizing the nations comes out of that. Everything else leads back to that.

   
Pretty amazing, right?  I give thanks to God for these women, their faith, and their understanding of the church.
 
I also give thanks to God for you, sisters and brothers, who are the church here and now with me.  And I wonder, what did these women say that resonates with you?  What would you add?
 
Peace,
Pastor Valerie
 
Contact Info:
To reach Pastor Valerie - 805-776-3377 or pastor.valerie@mtcarmelslo.org

To reach Pastor Dan - 805-776-3707 or
pastor.dan@mtcarmelslo.org
A big thank you to all who donated to the needy Veteran couple last week!  We were able to collect a wonderful assortment of household goods for them.  They hope to use the crock pot to bring soup to the homeless in local parks and pay it forward.  

We received this note from Doug:
"Thank you all for such wonderful gifts. It was so kind and thoughtful. God bless all that helped us. Thank you for not forgetting this Veteran when most churches did. I will see you in church as soon as I can."

The June 13 meeting of Opening Doors of Interfaith Understanding will be hosted by Congregation Beth David, 10180 Los Osos Valley Road. Even by the standards set by previous ODIU meetings, this one promises to be an especially rich and enriching experience. Essentially, our normal 7:30-9:30 p.m. meeting time permits us to join our Muslim and Jewish compatriots in breaking their fasts related to Shavuot and Ramadan. The meeting time-lines will be organized around the celebration of these rituals.

Those of us who are neither Muslim nor Jewish are encouraged to skip at least the evening meal and join symbolically in the spiritual intention of the evening.  Since the meal will be catered by Petra, it would be extremely helpful, and cost-effective,  if you RVSP to Imam Mus'ab at bmmusab@gmail.com by May 27. 

In addition to our participations in Ramadan and Shavuot, Imam Mus'ab will lead the discussion of The Road to Mecca by Assad Muhammad.

Registration for the Women’s Retreat continues after each Sunday service. The theme this year is, “Treasured Hearts.” Hear the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as we engage in what it means to treasure the amazing promises of God in our hearts.

Our speaker will be Pastor Sarah Sumner-Eisenbraun, Associate and Campus Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church, Glendale.

It will be held at La Casa de Maria, Oct. 14 – 16.

Total cost; $240, includes lodging, meals and program. $80 deposit due at registration, with second payment, $160, due 8-14-16. Cancellation – $100 penalty

Space is limited so sign up today!


Questions? Nancy Priddy, 459-9249

Adult Forums Coming in May & June:
Adult Forums during the remainder of May and June will cover a variety of topics and speakers.  The schedule is:

May 29 – Pastor John Rollefson will lead “Colors of the Church Season, Altar Hangings and Stoles,” a brief review of the colors used during the church seasons, reasons for their use, and other topics related to worship practices.

June 5 – Combined worship service at 10 am followed by the Congregational Annual Meeting. 

June 12 - July 24: "MY NEIGHBOR IS MUSLIM"
Pastor Valerie will present a seven-week program at Adult Forum beginning Sunday, June 12, based on the book “My Neighbor Is Muslim,"  The series takes a Lutheran look at Islam including basic tenets of the faith, Muslim teachings about Jesus, relations with Christians and Jews, and worship practices.  The series will take place Sunday mornings at 10 am. Please see below for details.

 
Housekeeping Note: If you or your group is the last one to leave the church premises, please help us keep our building secure and upon exiting,  make sure external doors are locked and latched.  Thank you!

 
Sunday, June 5th will be a Combined Service!  We will worship together at 10am, followed by our Annual Meeting.  Come one, come all!
MCLC 60th Anniversary Picnic!!
Sunday, June 12
Immediately following the 11:00am service in the MCLC Park. 
Come join the fun and fellowship. Road Kill Grill will be cooking up hot dogs and hamburgers and we are asking the congregation will bring side dishes to share. There will be a bounce house for the kids. Please sign up on the patio so that we have an approximate head count and buy food accordingly. 
Sun. May 29    8:45 AM     Traditional Worship
                      10:00 AM     Adult Forum
                      11:00 AM     Contemporary Worship
                
Mon. May 30   MEMORIAL DAY!            
                
Tue. May 31                
                
Wed. June 1    10:00 AM      Quilters
                          5:30 PM      Praise Band Rehearsal
                          6:00 PM      LCM Dinner and Bible Study
                          7:00 PM      Band Practice/Choir 
            
Thu. June 2     12:30 PM     Staff Meeting
                
Fri. June 3         8:00 AM     Friday Morning Garden Club
                          9:00 AM     Lutheran Chicks
                        10:30 AM     Bible Study (at Steynberg Gallery)
                        12:00 PM     People's Kitchen
                
Sat. June 4       8:00 AM      Men's Breakfast & Bible Study
                
Sun. June 5    10:00 AM     Combined Worship Service
                        11:00 AM     Annual Congregational Meeting


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