Vistas Midweek Update for July 7

This week at Mt. Carmel...

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We are here!!
The church is closed to walk-in traffic, but you can still reach us by phone and email.

Phone: 805-544-2133
Email info@mtcarmelslo.org
on Facebook at facebook.com/mtcarmelslo

Prayer requests may be sent to the church office by email or phone

OUR MISSION
Celebrating God’s grace through worship, learning and service.

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From the Pastor...

More years ago than seem possible, together with brother John and Ruth, I was blessed to be part of the ministry staff at St. Francis Lutheran Church in San Francisco. Because of its location near a big supermarket, people sometimes referred to the church as “St. Francis by the Safeway.” I’m not aware of any other Lutheran Churches named after St. Francis, but it's a good one. With his emphasis on simplicity, compassion for the poor, and a deep connection with creation, down through the centuries the spirituality of Francis has been an inspiration to seekers around the world. The following benediction suggests the implications of Francis’ way for our time.

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so we may live deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in the world so that we can do what others claim cannot be done to bring justice and kindness to all our children and to the poor.

Peace,
Pr. Richard

Click the picture for the order of worship

Pastor Richard Rollefson leads this quiet service each Wednesday evening at 7:00pm on Zoom. Click the link below to join the meeting, or join by phone and enter the meeting ID.

Link to WEDNESDAY Evening Zoom Service
Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
For telephone: +1 669 900 9128 (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 867 5095 6162

With the current protests focused on racial justice, it’s a good time to learn all that we can. The books on this list were recommended by Cal Poly to its community, and may be of interest to Mt. Carmel.

White Fragility by Robin D'Angelo
Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Tatum
White Rage by Carol Anderson
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Please contact the church office if you are interested in forming your own discussion group, or for information on joining an existing book group.

Matching Gifts Challenge Benefitting the SLO County Food Bank

A couple in our congregation will match donations up to $3,000 made by members and friends to the SLO County Food Bank. The food bank is facing extra needs at this time and was thrilled to hear about the matching funds challenge.

Use this link to donate to the Mount Carmel matching funds challenge

If you prefer to donate to matching funds challenge by check, make your check out to the SLO County Food Bank. Write Mt. Carmel Matching Funds Drive on the memo line so that your donation will be properly credited. Mail to:

Food Bank Coalition of SLO County
1180 Kendall Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Please do not route your food bank donations through Mount Carmel. Doing so will delay your donation and make tracking the matching funds challenge donations difficult for the food bank to track.

Thank you to Mount Carmel for your always generous spirit!

STEPHEN MINISTRY is a spiritual approach to caring for people experiencing difficult life situations. Through initial training, Stephen Ministers learn how to strengthen their own relationship with God, and to bring the Holy Spirit into relationships with others, to promote God’s healing grace.

Interested in becoming a Stephen Minister? Interested in learning the philosophy and practices of Stephen Ministry, for your own benefit or to support caring work you are already doing? A new Stephen Ministry Zoom training class is being formed. It will meet Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for one hour. Each lesson is being divided into two parts to avoid “Zoom fatigue.” The first session is planned for Tuesday, July 28. There are eighteen lessons. At the end of the lessons, students decide if they would like to become Stephen Ministers.

If you are interested in participating, contact
Sandy Rowland
805-296-9609
rowland.sandra50@gmail.com

You can become a Stephen Minister from the comfort of your own home. Shirts are required, but shoes are optional!

This month’s case is Take the Monkeys and Run by Karen Cantwell. This rather light-hearted murder mystery is set in the fictional Washington, D.C. suburb of Rustic Woods, VA. Please read and be prepared to discuss your findings with the rest of the squad.

We are changing our briefings to the 3rd Monday of each month. July’s briefing will be on Monday, July 20 at 7 p.m. We’re looking for more detectives, and everyone is welcome.

For any questions about your assignment, call or text Detective Sgt. Patti (a.k.a. “Four Eyes Agatha”) Frey at (805) 235-1938.

Here’s the address of Zoom Headquarters:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79826108228?pwd=eXhGSEpYWVdVcy9XdnRBSGN2NnJSdz09
Meeting ID: 798 2610 8228
Password: 0gQrgX

Sorry, but due to the tight budget constraints imposed by that cheapskate Chief Constable, there is no phone-in option available for these briefings.

On Sunday, July 26, Southwest California Synod will present a Godspeed and Thanksgiving at Conclusion of Call for Bishop R. Guy Erwin.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, we are unable to say farewell in person as we should (and would like to). The Synod Office is planning a reception for Bishop Guy during 2021. In the meantime, we are inviting you to record a brief (no more than 30 seconds, please) goodbye or remembrance and send it in to be part of the July 26 service! Record yourself, your family, send a picture of you or you with Bishop Erwin, record a ZOOM meeting, dance, sing, get creative, or just wave!

We'll need all recordings no later than 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 19. Please send all recordings to shenderson@socalsynod.org, and contact Pr. Brenda Bos at bbos@socalsynod.org if you have any questions.

Copyright © 2016 MT. CARMEL, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
1701 FREDERICKS ST., SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93405

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Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church · 1701 Fredericks St. · San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 · USA