Christ Church Comments
July, 2015
Christian Freedom
July is the month we celebrate our independence. We celebrate because of the freedoms we have personally, legally, politically and spiritually. From our Lutheran tradition there is a very specific understanding of
our freedom as Christians. So what is Christian freedom?
Baptism is the beginning of the journey of faith because — in our baptism — Christians are given their
identity as children of God. Christian freedom helps us understand what it means to be a child of God and
how to live as a person of faith.
Martin Luther in 1520 wrote a short work entitled “The Freedom of the Christian”. It was intended to be
a peace offering to Pope Leo X. While it did not accomplish this purpose, it remains a gem among Luther’s
writings because it shows us his vision of the Christian life.
Luther begins with the following thesis statement:
“The Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
The Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”
While these two statements seem contradictory, they are in fact complimentary and together help us understand how we are to live.
Christians are free lords:
The freedom Luther sees for the Christian is, of course, spiritual freedom. We are free from all the powers
that can take away life and separate us from God. It is freed om from the power of sin, God’s word of judgment, and from our desire to want to be God and do what God alone can do. This freedom comes to us
through the gift of faith given freely by Christ.
Christians are dutiful servants:
For what purpose are Christians freed? Christians are freed to be servants. Freedom describes our relationship with Christ, service describes our relationship with others and the world. So we live in Christ through
faith, in our neighbor through love.
Questions to think about:
1. How does our society define freedom? How do you?
2. What prevents you from expressing your faith active in love?
3. What implications does Christian freedom have for your day-to-day life?
- Pastor Bux
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church
225 E. Elm Avenue  Monroe, MI 48162  734.241.4554
Website: christlutheranmonroe.org  Facebook: Christ Lutheran Church—Monroe, MI
Pastor: [email protected]  Karen: [email protected]
Kristen: [email protected]  Newsletter: [email protected]
From the Archives …
1945-2015: Community Outreach Ministry
Christ Lutheran Church participates in the community of Monroe in many different ways. Some of our
youth programs are also a part of outreach.
 Christmas Families—In the early 1980s, the church began the practice of adopting an area
family in need at Christmas. The church now adopts anywhere from three to five families and the members help in the purchase of necessities and gifts for these families.
 Living Nativity—Just before Christmas, the church presents a Living Nativity open to all
residents of the area. It is a great event; members dress as the Magi and shepherds. We have live animals and sometimes even a real baby in the manger.
 CROP Walk—In the 1980s, we also became involved in the Monroe County CROP Walk,
which is held every fall. We are still involved in this event where members walk and gain pledges of
money to help meet the needs of those less fortunate.
 Lord’s Harvest Pantry—Members of the congregation volunteer at the Lord’s Harvest Pantry
and assist clients with food/product selection. The church had a toilet paper drive a couple of years ago
and we donate other items to the pantry from time to time.
 Building Use—The parish hall is oftentimes used for support groups in the community such as
Gabby’s Ladder, the MOMS Club, and Alcoholics Anonymous.
 Trinity Lutheran Church—On the third Sunday of each month, we volunteer at Trinity Lutheran Church to serve a community meal to those in need.
 Caring Pantry—The caring pantry includes funds for an on-site food pantry as well as funding
for Fresh Fruit Sunday. We also help to fund the “backpack” program. On Fridays, backpacks are filled
and sent home so that children can have something for lunch on the weekends; the backpacks are returned empty on Mondays. Funding for the Caring Pantry comes from SOUPer Bowl Sunday and from
especially designated offerings.
 Vacation Bible School—Attendance at V.B.S. at Christ Lutheran Church is not limited to
members only. We gladly welcome children from throughout the community.
 Relay for Life and Light the Night—2004 was the first year that Christ Lutheran Church
participated in Relay for Life (American Cancer Society). Kendall Garman, who was 4 years old at the
time, had been diagnosed with cancer and our team became “Kendall’s Care Bears”. Kendall is now 15
years old and — at the 2015 Relay for Life — she cut the ribbon for the opening ceremonies! The members of this congregation have raised $130,000 (give or take a few dollars) to help find a cure
for cancer. “Light the Night” is a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association. The event was
started in 2012 when Hilary Harmon was diagnosed with lymphoma. Hilary is a survivor and Christ Lutheran Church has hosted fundraisers to help this cause.
Next month: Youth and Family Ministry
- Beth Ann Choate
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
May 2015
Actual
Year to Date 2015
Budget
Actual
Budget
Operating Income: $ 17,696
$ 17,395
$ 83,189
$ 81,692
Operating Expense: $ 17,471
$ 19,666
$ 94,454
$ 104,278
Surplus [Deficit]:
[$ 2,271]
[$ 11,265]
[$ 22,586]
$
225
Upcoming
Meetings
Baptismal
Ministry Team
will meet at 10:30 a.m.
on Wednesday, July 1st
Keep the Fun & Faith
Growing All Summer Long!
 Summer Camp! We have 17 campers this year! We
will head up to Stony Lake Lutheran Camp the week of
July 19-24. Please keep us in your prayers. Our youth
will have an awesome faith-nurturing experience with
kids their own age from across the state.
 Speaking of fun, faith-building experiences … Vacation Bible School is just around the corner! We are still
looking for help and donations. If you are able to vol-

Vacation Bible School
Team Meeting
will meet at 6:00 p.m.
on Wednesday, July 1st

Youth & Family
Ministry Teams
will meet at 7:30 p.m.
on Wednesday, July 1st
unteer the week of V.B.S. (July 27-31), please let Kristen know. If you are thinking about donating (or loaning) supplies, we are in need of small cardboard boxes,
woven baskets (which will be returned), woven blankets (which would also be returned), and food items.
Please contact Ann Link.
Vacation Bible School
REGISTRATION FORMS ARE INCLUDED
IN THIS NEWSLETTER!
We need volunteers to serve as communion assistants, assisting ministers,
readers and acolytes. Interested? PLEASE CALL:
 Communion Assistants
June Coyne
734.243.5992
 Assisting Ministers
Rusty Ward
810.265.6520 or Pastor Bux
 Scripture Readers
Carol Miller
734.243.6562
 Acolytes
Pastor Bux
734.241.4554
734.241.4554
Raymond L. Kessler
Scholarship Fund
The alumni of Jefferson High School, in recognition of and admiration for their principal,
Ray Kessler, have established a scholarship
fund. This fund, administered through Monroe
County Community College, is meant to insure
that each year at least one Jefferson student
(who otherwise might not attend college) will be
given the opportunity of higher education. The
award will be funded entirely through contributions by alumni, individuals, businesses, and
associations familiar with the part Ray played
in the lives of generations of Jefferson students.
Ray has been a longtime and active member
of Christ Lutheran Church. Ray’s devotion to
his students was, in part, due to his faith in
God. He led by example. The establishment of
this fund by his students is a testament to this.
In recognition of this scholarship fund, the
Church Council has authorized a $100 donation to the fund. This provides us with an opportunity for community outreach as well as
the chance to honor one of our own. If you are
so inclined, please consider a personal donation to the fund. You can make a donation in
your offering, noting the amount to go to the
scholarship fund, or place a check in the offering, noting on the memo line that it is for the
Ray Kessler Scholarship. All donations will
be combined and one check from Christ Lutheran Church will be sent to the Community
College.
CPR/AED Training
Below is a description of a CPR/AED Training
Class that will be offered at Christ Lutheran
Church. If you are interested, please contact
the church office or Beth Ann Choate at
770.855.3370 (cell phone). We will have the
training class toward the end of September.
FAMILY & FRIENDS CPR
Course Description:
The dynamic Family & Friends CPR course is
designed to teach small or large groups of
lay rescuers the basics of CPR. This program
uses the research-based practice-whilewatching format to teach skills in CPR; AED
use; and relief of choking adults, children and
infants. Adult, child and infant skills are presented in three separate modules for added
flexibility.
This course is intended for:
 Members of volunteer organizations
 Residents of rural areas or locations prone
to natural disasters
 Athletes or wilderness exploration
 College-dorm resident assistants
 Other community groups or organizations
 People who want to learn CPR
and do not require certification
This course covers:
 Adult hands-only CPR
 Adult AED use
 Child CPR and AED use
 Infant CPR
 Adult, child, infant choking relief
Length of course: Approximately 2-3 hours
Cost of course:
$25 per person includes student manuals
COUNCIL COMMENTS
The Council met on Monday, June 8th, at the
home of Brian and Lesley Nemeth.
Gary Standifer, our custodian for the past few
years, has resigned and Council is focused on finding a replacement.
A 70th Birthday Party for our congregation is
planned for September 12th, 2015.
About Our Caring Pantry ...
Our normal push to fill our food pantry shelves
happens during SOUPer Bowl Sunday, but
there are folks who donate throughout the year
to feed the hungry. Therefore, we currently have
a few extra dollars in that fund and I am on the
lookout for good charities that could benefit
from the generosity of this congregation.
Worship services for June through August will be
held on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. Communion is offered at
both services and refreshments are available following each service.
Save the Date!
September 12, 2015
If you know of a charity to whom we could donate some food, please let me know. Some of
the places outside our own food pantry that
have benefitted from your donations include St.
Joseph’s Food Pantry, Salvation Army, the
Community of Needs Meals, and students in
local Monroe County schools.
Join us in celebrating
the 70th Birthday
of
Christ Lutheran
Church
Please let me know where you would like this
gift of food to be given. Thank you! — Kelly
at 6:00 p.m.
Call Kelly Kellie at 242.5771
(following the Saturday Night Alive Service)
or e-mail
[email protected]
Details to follow!
Very Important
DATES TO REMEMBER:
 July 1
Baptismal Ministry Team meets at 10:30 a.m.
 July 1
Vacation Bible School Team meets at 6:00 p.m.
 July 1
Youth & Family Ministry Teams meet at 7:30 p.m.
 July 12
Women’s Book Club meets at 6:00 p.m.
 July 19-24
Youth attending summer camp at Stony Lake Lutheran Camp
 July 27-31
Hometown Nazareth Vacation Bible School daily from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Marilyn’s Nurse’s Notes for Healthy Living
A Polyp? What about it?
When you had your last colonoscopy, you may have been horrified that the doctor told you a polyp was removed and called it a precancerous growth. Most likely
it was an adenoma. The vast majority of these growths are benign and will never progress to cancer, even though colorectal cancers usually start in an adenoma or less common types of polyps.
Also, it takes many years for a malignancy to develop in those that do become malignant. It is rather misleading to call a very common growth precancerous.
By the time people become fifty, 15-25% of them have at least one polyp. Screening for colorectal
cancer typically starts at this age. Adenomas and other types of polyps tend to increase with age
and up to half of the population will develop them in their lifetime.
It is estimated that only about 5% of these polyps (developed in a lifetime) will become cancer if
they are not treated. This risk increases about 1% per year for large polyps and is even lower for
small ones.
If you have ever had polyps removed, you will have to have more frequent colonoscopies. There
are some types of small hyperplastic polyps which do not pose an increased cancer risk and so do
not need to be monitored. Talk with your doctor about the frequency of your need for a colonoscopy.
Screening is still important as colon cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the United
States (after lung cancer) and claims 50,000 lives per year. It usually starts with a benign polyp.
The rate is so high mainly because about a third of us don’t get screened as recommended, which
allows that small percentage of adenomas to progress eventually to invasive cancer. There is no
debate in the medical community about the need for screening for colorectal
cancer like there is for PSA screening for prostate cancer and even for mammograms for breast
cancer.
There are several options available, so talk to your health care professional. Colonoscopy every 10
years is the method of choice, but annual screening for blood in the stool by a fecal immunochemical test can be used. If blood is found, then a colonoscopy is required.
Screening does save lives.
- Marilyn Sanderlin, BSN
Source: University of California-Berkley Wellness Letter, June, 2015
Your special talents
are needed!
There are still Sundays open …
If you play an instrument or sing,
please sign up.
Remember … Lutherans LOVE
refreshments. Please help us
live up to that reputation and
sign up to provide a tasty treat
after the Sunday worship service.
Sign-up sheets for music and
refreshments are posted in the Narthex.
Women’s Book Club
Meeting time is 6 p.m. & includes a light supper.
 July 12th
The Imagine Project short stories by various
authors at the home of Laura Matthews
 August 2nd
The Memory Garden by Mary Rickert
at the home of Virginia Dietrich
Hope to see you at our next meeting!
We would like to congratulate all of our graduates on their hard work and determination. We pray that, no matter
what they choose to do in their lives, they follow the path of Christ.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
 Elisabeth Buick from Monroe High School
 Audrey Mullins from Monroe High School
 Steven Prater from Jefferson High School
 Kayla Hawthorne from Allen Park High School
Congratulations to our Graduates!
COLLEGE GRADUATES
 Tanetria Hopkins from Monroe County Middle College with a high school diploma and an Associate’s degree. Tanetria will continue her studies at Monroe County Community College in the fall and winter, with the plan to transfer to
the University of Toledo’s nursing program to work toward becoming a nurse practitioner.
 Sarah Woodward from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Sarah will attend the University of
Toledo’s Master of Social Work program in the fall.
 Alex Woodward from Monroe County Community College with an Associate’s degree from the Culinary Arts Program.
 Zachary Garman from Philadelphia University with a Bachelor’s of Architecture degree. Zachary has accepted a position at Bernardon Haber Hamilton Architects in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
 Lindsay Mieden from the University of Michigan—Dearborn with a degree in graduate studies in social work.
These are the names that we were given by their families. If you know of someone who has recently graduated but was
not on the list, please let us know. We would like to acknowledge everyone’s achievement!
We need volunteers to serve on Sundays as communion assistants, assisting ministers, scripture
readers, acolytes, greeters and ushers. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex hallway,
call or e-mail. N/V = No volunteer = NEED volunteers! Please help.
VOLUNTEERS FOR JULY:
SCRIPTURE READERS
ASSISTING MINISTERS
ACOLYTES
July 5
9:30 a.m.
Eleanor Russell
July 5
9:30 a.m.
Marilyn Sanderlin
July 5
9:30 a.m.
N/V
Cate Windelborn
July 12
9:30 a.m.
Geof Oetjens
July 12
9:30 a.m.
N/V
Phoebe Harmon
July 19
9:30 a.m.
Renee Merkel
July 19
9:30 a.m.
N/V
Polly VanAcker
July 26
9:30 a.m.
Jim Jackel
July 26
9:30 a.m.
N/V
July 12
9:30 a.m.
July 19
9:30 a.m.
July 26
9:30 a.m.
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS
GREETERS
July 5
9:30 a.m.
July 12
9:30 a.m.
July 19
9:30 a.m.
July 26
9:30 a.m.
N/V
July 5
9:30 a.m.
N/V
N/V
July 12
9:30 a.m.
N/V
N/V
July 19
9:30 a.m.
N/V
July 26
9:30 a.m.
N/V
USHERS
July 5
9:30 a.m.
Shelby Carter, Ed Oley,
Patrick Lewis
July 12
9:30 a.m.
Karen Russell, Barb Wood
July 19
9:30 a.m.
Frank Imre, Geof Oetjens
July 26
9:30 a.m.
Ken Miller, Dennis Wagasy
N/V
ALTAR TEAM
July 5, 12, 19 and 26
Melissa Notario, Cindy Wagasy, Marilyn Oetjens, and Sue Miller*
Have you had a change of address?
Please notify the church office with the details of your current address,
if you have moved, or have a new phone number, or are vacationing for
an extended period of time.
This helps save postage on returned mail. All church contact information
is found on the front page of the newsletter.
July 27-31 from 9:00 am - Noon
Christ Lutheran Church
225 E. Elm Ave, Monroe MI 48162
Volunteer Registration Form
Volunteer Name: _________________________________________________
If Under 18 yrs. Parent/Guardian Name(s): ________________________
Desired Job (circle anything that interests you):
Tribe Leader (over 18)
Fun & Games
Decorating
Tribe Helper
Market Place (Craft)
Kitchen Helper
Registration
Full Address: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Phone #: _________________________________________________________
Alternate Phone #: _______________________________________________
Parent Email : ____________________________________________________
Emergency Contact Person: _____________________________________
Emergency Contact #: ___________________________________________
Any Allergies? ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Important Medical Info: __________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Any other information that you feel is important: ______________
___________________________________________________________________
If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 241-4554. You can also register
online at https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/hl/ChristLutheranMonroe.
July 27-31 from 9:00 am - Noon
Christ Lutheran Church
225 E. Elm Ave, Monroe MI 48162
Participant Registration Form
Participant Name: _______________________________________________
Grade (for the 2014-15 year): _____________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name(s): _________________________________________
Full Address: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Phone #: _________________________________________________________
Alternate Phone #: _______________________________________________
Parent Email : ____________________________________________________
Emergency Contact Person: _____________________________________
Emergency Contact #: ___________________________________________
Any Allergies? ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Important Medical Info: __________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Any other information that you feel is important: ______________
___________________________________________________________________
If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 241-4554. You can also register
online at https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/hl/ChristLutheranMonroe.