Life@CtK Blog: Welcoming the Stranger

WORSHIP WITH US THIS MORNING!

21st Sunday after Pentecost

Today’s gospel starts with disciples obsessing over who will be closest to Jesus, leading to Jesus teaching his followers about God’s take on importance and power. Here Jesus makes it explicit that the reversal of values in God’s community is a direct challenge to the values of the dominant culture, where wielding power over others is what makes you great. When we pray “your kingdom come” we are praying for an end to tyranny and oppression. We pray this gathered around the cross, a sign of great shame transformed to be the sign of great honor and service. -- from Sundays & Seasons

Readings: P salm 91:9-16 // M ark 10:35-45

Schedule for Sunday, October 17th, 2021

9:30 AM - Worship: In-person and Livestreamed
Join us this morning - either in-person or online. Today, we welcome guest preacher, Deacon Krista Lind, Assistant to the Bishop for the Saint Paul Area Synod. She will help accompany us through this time of pastor transitions. Welcome, Deacon Krista!

We continue to ask everyone to mask up upon entering the church building. If you are joining via livestream, access the service here on YouTube or on lifeatctk.org. Click here to download the bulletin.

10:30 AM - OUTDOORS Coffee/Donut Fellowship
As we continue to mask while being indoors at CtK, we're moving fellowship outside of Door 4 (near the gym). Youth Breakfast Club meets in the Youth Room (Lower Level)

11:00 AM - Faith Formation

Sunday Adult Learning Time (SALT)
- In-person and on zoom: Click Here to join Zoom Meeting
  - Meeting ID: 898 0696 6779 // Passcode: 352501
Children’s Activities with Deb

12 NOON - Cristo Rey worship in Spanish

You are welcome to share CtK's livestream worship opportunities with your friends and family who may be looking for online worship services. All are welcome in our community!

Sunday Adult Learning Time (SALT) October Series
Short Conversations for Deeper Reflection on Racism continues today!

CtK's third session on racism focuses on redlining and racial covenants. Our facilitator Rachel Cagle has the following videos to give a good foundation along with the following questions:

Watch The Story of the Contract Buyers League (10 minutes)
Watch “Mapping Prejudice Illuminates History of Racism in Minneapolis” (2 minutes) and check out Mapping Prejudice’s website
Answer these questions:

Do you believe that there is an economic disadvantage due to racism?
What is the racial composition of your street or neighborhood? How did the racial composition of your neighborhood affect your decision to move into this house or neighborhood?
Do you think redlining and racial covenants have affected our church?

We meet in the Trinity Room from 11 am to 12 noon, or you may tune in via zoom. There is always room for more participants!

Have questions or need help making a one-time or reoccurring donation? Call the CtK office at 651-633-4674 or email info@lifeatctk.org for assistance. We appreciate your generosity and support!

Welcoming the Stranger

By Ralph Berg

For over 40 years, many CtK members have worked as a team to welcome and assist people displaced by wars around the world – beginning with families fleeing the dangers created by their alignment with U.S. presence in Southeast Asia. Since then, they have assisted many families from at least 8 war-torn countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In the early days, in addition to help with finding living space, school enrollment, transportation and the many bewildering details of life in a strange new world, we were required to provide 6 months of financial support for “our” families.

When Dorothy Olson, wife of the late Pastor Paul, invited me to act as treasurer for the refugee resettlement team, I did not realize what a lasting impact it would have on my faith and my view of our place in the world.

Helping the newcomers with material needs and logistics were the obvious team goals but the learnings and friendships that blessed all of us have far exceeded our expectations. Through the years, several refugee families have remained friends with CtK families and have gone on to contribute to the community in many, many ways. Their hard work and resilience are inspirational to those of us who have always lived in a wealthy secure country. They have enriched our families’ lives and we have grown through knowing them.

After the past few years of very restricted entry, there is a renewed opportunity to “welcome the stranger” in and our midst. Again, there is a call to help refugees from countries that aligned with the western world and are paying heavily for it. Dale Erickson is in contact with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and is awaiting further information on ways we can respond as a faith community. We hope to have a gathering soon with a plan for next steps. If you would like to help in any way, you may contact Dale Erickson or Ralph Berg via email, phone or in person. The experience will be fulfilling.

As we approach our 60th anniversary as a church, we'd love to hear about your experiences of Jubilee at Christ the King. Here are some questions to think about as you consider what story you might share:

Submit your story and find out more information by emailing Nate at nate@lifeatctk.org

IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK

Kristi Chace, Boo Christenson, Lu Curtis, Betty Erickson, Leila Fischer, Mark Jacobson, Laurie Johnson, Martha Kesti, Heather Kosec, Gregg Larsen, Sam Miller, Tasleema Mustafa, Kay Philbrook, , Bob Sackariason, John Snyder, Bonnie Seiferth, Doris Strauch, Vonnie Seim, Kirk Swanson, Ed Werner, Kao Yang

For Jean Spong and family on the death of her husband, Bob Spong
For Benjamin Urey on the death of his son, Benjamin Urey III

WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR

Carrie Kane, Peggy Henricksen, Jon Paulson, Marilyn Riege, Cliff Weiss

WE PRAY FOR THE RECENTLY BAPTIZED

Caden Roger Syverson, Riley Gomez-Chavez, Milan Gomez-Chavez, Camila Perales-Estupiñan