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Servants’ Song
A Publication of
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
and Catch the Son Preschool
A Reconciling in Christ congregation of the
April
2015
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Called by God to
share the
Good News,
we are
the hands of Christ
╬
Lifted in worship
╬
Joined in learning
╬
Extended in service
╬
Supporting in love
╬
Reaching for justice
In this Issue!!
Palm Sunday
Seder Meal
March 29th at 5:30
Maundy Thursday
7:00 p.m. Service
with Men’s Chorus
Good Friday
7:00 p.m. Tenebrae
with Servant Singers
Easter Morning
April 5th , 8:30 and 11:00
Palm Sunday—March 29th
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, with a special Congregational reading following
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, His Passion, and His death. As we participate in the
readings, all of us find our place in this story of Jesus’ courage and love.
Maundy Thursday
April 2nd, 7:00 p.m.
Gather “on the night in which He was
betrayed” as we remember Jesus’ first
celebration of
Communion with
His followers, we
also remember
Jesus’ preparation
for the Cross, and
His Command to
“love one another,
as I have loved
you”. As we receive
communion, space
will be available for individual absolution
and for foot washing. The Service
concludes with the Stripping of the Altar
as the Good Shepherd is struck down
and the sheep scatter.
Good Friday
April 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
We gather for a Tenebrae Worship of quiet hymns and prayers,
recalling the mood
and scene of that Friday when Jesus was
lain in the Tomb.
Easter Morning
Just as Angels’ words announced Jesus’
birth, so they
announce His
resurrection. Having
broken the power of
sin and death on
Good Friday, Jesus
returns among us to
lead us into being
God’s people—alive
with forgiveness and power and grace..
Servants’ Song
Page 2
God’s Work—Our Hands!
Word’s from the Pastor
I
I was glad
when they
said to me,
“Let us go up
unto the
House of the
Lord”
Psalm 122
n just a bit I’ll be heading off for a
most excellent Continuing
Education events. It’s called “The
Festival of Homiletics”. It is an annual
global gathering of around thirteen
hundred Professors of Preaching and
pastors currently engaged in weekly
preaching. Over the course of five days,
we’ll gather morning, afternoons, and
evenings to hear actual sermons,
presentations on preaching, and
experience workshops about preparing
sermons! See—it is most excellent—
and there is still time for you to register
( www.festivalofhomiletics.com/ )
It really is a grand time—not only to
listen to those voices leading the
contemporary conversation about
preaching, but to check-in or meet with
colleagues, and to find renewal in the
privilege of being a bridge into the
congregation’s experience of God’s
Word.
ne of the workshops I’m going to
attend is entitled “Preaching the
Narrative Lectionary”.
The Narrative Lectionary is something
that has been growing out of Luther
Seminary in St. Paul, a conversation and
an experiment in deepening our
experience of worship by reintroducing
the community to our first language of
faith—the Biblical stories.
For as long as any Lutheran can
remember, we’ve been well served by
an organization of weekly readings that
lead us through the major themes of
Jesus’ ministry and teaching. Half of our
year has been spent journeying through
O
Jesus’ life, half the year spent listening
to His teachings. We’ve done this in
three year cycles that spend a year’s
focus each on Matthew, Mark, and then
Luke—with John stashed in the
schedule here and there. And as the
last sentence suggests, our focus over
generations of worship has been the
Gospel lessons, which are rich and
abundant, but all the stories of the Old
Testament and two thirds of the New
are read in part and left to slip away
without comment.
While in some ways we’ve been
served well by a Gospel centered
lectionary (especially in how it helps
protect the congregation from the
personality and the favorite themes of
the preacher), in other ways we’ve lost
something. A lot of us have not only
become a bit unfamiliar with the
richness of that part of our heritage, we
also can experience those public
readings of those stories as just
marking time until we get to the
Gospel. Imagine it—almost seven eights
of the Bible becoming like medieval
maps—just blank unexplored areas
where no one dares to go.
ith this in mind, some faculty
at Luther Seminary went out
to experiment and to harvest some
data. In a variety of Lutheran
congregations, they asked folks who’d
been through a hearing of Old
Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel,
“what were the lessons today?”. About
twelve percent of those worshiping
W
(Continued on page 3)
April 2015
(Continued from page 2)
could even somewhat identify even the one of the
lessons.
So, they experimented with reducing the number of
lessons. The responses shifted dramatically.
When two lessons were read, the number who
could identify and describe the lessons shot into the
fifties. When one single lesson was used, the number
of folks who could identify and describe the lesson
skyrocketed into the high eightieth percentile.
But what to read in worship? Should it just be the
Gospel lesson? How do we still experience the
fullness of God’s revelation in scripture with just one
reading during worship?
The Narrative Lectionary is one way our generation
has responded.
In essence, the Narrative Lectionary steps away
from a primary focus on a year spent in Jesus’ life and
teaching, with a longer focus on the whole story of
God and God’s people; from Creation through Fall,
through Covenant and Israel’s frailties and God’s
faithfulness, through the challenge and consolation of
the Prophets, finally with the story of God coming to
us in the fullness of Jesus, and the new creation of
God’s covenant people which is the Church.
n a number of congregations around the ELCA,
Luther Seminary faculty have been crafting
different ways of creating a potent Narrative
Lectionary.
In some places, congregations have taken a season
of the calendar or Church year to focus on a
particular Biblical book or family story. Our Savior's in
Rochester, MN, spent one summer working straight
through the book of Genesis, the next year using the
book of The Acts of the Apostles. They chose longer
sections to read than the five or ten verses we often
get—longer readings presenting the context and the
texture of the stories. Bigger themes came to light.
Barely heard of names became people the
I
Page 3
congregation began to know. Midweek small groups
and Sunday School also used the texts as their focus,
giving more room to chew on what God was serving.
The result—the reporter in the pew shared that the
whole congregation felt a bit more unified in what
they were experiencing in worship, a bit more tied
into the themes that were growing, a bit more
interested in what was coming next and where it
would lead. Attendance grew—even though it was
summer.
It was because of those reports that we here at
Christ the Servant tried a modified version of this two
summers ago—gathering on Sunday mornings to
follow the whole narrative arch from the Call of Sarah
and Abraham to the giving of the Ten
Commandments on Sinai. We read and I preached on
those narrative lessons, but we still filled worship
with the reading of the other three.
o I’m off to the Festival of Homiletics to hear
more about what people are attempting and
how that is being affecting their communities. I’m
hopeful that I’ll hear some compelling stories,
because while I’m a grateful user of our current
system, I do wonder if we are sooooo committed to
using the Revised Common Lectionary that we would
even believe it if someone attending worship says
they’re not getting much from the readings. Doesn’t
Webster’s define “Lutheran” as, “those in the
tradition of Martin Luther, who emphasize God’s
grace—and resist change at any cost”.
If you’d like find out more about the Narrative
Lectionary, there is still time for you to register and
attend the Festival with me. But if five days of
morning noon and night preaching isn’t as interesting
to you as it is to me, you can also check out the link to
Luther Seminary’s resource at:
www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_faqs.aspx
S
Pastor Eric
Page 4
Servants’ Song
God’s Work—Our Hands!
Excellent Updates from our Church Council
Four members were absent from the meeting (Kirstin Doud,
Claudia Ackerman, Jerry Clemons, Sean Avery). Minutes from
last meeting were approved, with clarification that the Health
Ministries Committee is indeed actively meeting and plans to
continue as a standing committee.
planned for the weekend after school gets out; the national
youth gathering in Detroit; VBS; and Camp Lutherwood. This
year 15 kids (as compared with 2 last year) are going to the
elementary retreat this weekend! Fundraiser for National Youth
Gathering will be starting this week and will continue for two
weeks. The youth will be selling cards, coffee, scarves, and
chocolate.
Announcements
The Ski to Sea Parade will include a walking group for
Lutherans. Information will be available in the
Pr. Eric reported that events and planning for Lent, Holy Week,
Thursday Note and Troy Faith Ward is our CTS contact. and Easter are coming together.
Also, a banner making party for the parade will take
place on March 28 at 10 am.
Finance: February’s income was $7,281 less than budgeted,
Allie Raduege will represent CTS as Youth Delegate to Synod
and expenses were $1,071 less than budgeted, resulting
Assembly.
in over $6,000 used from reserves. Finance is watching
Regarding the Capital Campaign, letters will be sent to
this closely.
campaign participants and plans are being made for a
Stewardship: Council agreed the current system for
late-spring celebration.
scheduling worship servers is working well. Committee
The North End Wall project is expected to begin
has revised descriptions of worship roles; these
construction in May.
descriptions will be helpful when Jean contacts new
Progress continues on our new church sign.
congregants who are not yet on the worship server list.
Easter offering will support the following ministries:
Nursery attendants will get reminder calls in the future.
First $300 will provide a computer for an employee
Community Ministries: Team recently heard presentation
of Living Waters for the World in Honduras
on Serve Whatcom, an organization with a purpose of
Half of remainder will support One Spirit Medical
building bridges among local churches and igniting a
Missions in Haiti
movement of churches serving people who are living on
The other half of the remainder will go to Catch the
the margins. Serve Whatcom plans to host a website
Son Preschool Scholarship Fund and Family
connecting those in need with those who can meet the
Assistance Fund.
needs. The Community Ministry Team recommends
that CTS hold off on participating until Serve Whatcom
Staff and Committee Reports
can provide additional information about other
participating organizations.
Lisa Cornwell, Youth Ministries Director, reported on recent and
upcoming youth activities including a Lopez Island bike trip
Committee
Needs
Finance
1 member who has a good understanding of balance sheets, etc.
Stewardship
People with a variety of skills who would enjoy supporting Stewardship
Community Ministries
No additional members needed
Fellowship
4-6 members who are willing to wash dishes, work in the kitchen, help with fellowship events, etc.
Global Missions
New members are welcome, though none needed in particular.
Health Ministries
Currently recruiting members/affirming membership.
Worship
2 members for the Committee, and additional members are welcome on the hymn selection team.
Property
New members needed
Youth
Two new members are sought for the committee; John Latimer and Kirstin are stepping down from
the committee.
The committee would like three new members. Note: Linda Petrasek, chair of the committee, will
step down this year.
No new members are needed for the committee at this time.
Sunday School
Adult Ed
April 2015
Page 5
Fellowship Committee: The committee is currently preparing for the Easter brunch. Dish drying during larger events is
challenging because of space; a solution is needed.
Global Missions: The committee, some of whom just returned from Honduras, is pondering whether Guatemala will be next,
but the decision was to stick with Honduras at this time in order to focus on what is already being done well. Share the
Bless school is doing well; the teachers at the school were very excited to see the CTS team during their wonderful visit.
Health Ministries: The committee is moving forward with purchase, installation and training for the AED (automated external
defibrillator).
Worship and Arts: (Representative Sean Avery absent)
Property: Boiler certifications are done (good for another 2 years)
Youth: See Lisa’s report.
Sunday School: VBS plans underway.
Adult Ed: Nothing new to report.
Preschool: Auction was very successful!
In order to inform the work of the Nominating Team, committees were asked to identify their needs for the 2015 – 2016 year.
(They are listed on the chart on the previous page)
Amending of Ministry Team descriptions in the by-laws of the CTS Constitution
Council unanimously approved suggested changes to the ministry team suggestions recommended by the following teams (most of
which were slight wording changes): 1) Sunday School, 2) Fellowship, 3) Stewardship of Mission and Life, and 4) Worship, Music &
Arts.
Weddings and funerals will no longer fall under the direction of the Worship Committee. Pastor Eric said that Cindy Petersen
will help with these types of events, in conjunction with Haggen catering.
Evangelism Committee no longer exists, and will be removed.
Use of Thrivent Choice Dollars
Thrivent Choice Dollars for the first quarter of 2015 are going toward the CTS general fund. Dollars received in quarters 2 – 4 will
be used to fund Youth Camp scholarships (first $2500) with the remainder going to the Interfaith Coalition.
Page 6
Servants’ Song
God’s Work—Our Hands!
Global Missions Update
Our March trip to Sula, Honduras was a success and
clean water is flowing in one more community! We are
so grateful for your prayers of support and your warm
“welcome home” wishes. While the outcome of the
trip is positive all around, we are reminded that you can
plan and plan before you go, but in all likelihood, nothing will follow that plan when you arrive in Honduras!
This is when patience, flexibility, and a good dose of
God’s grace are essential.
Assembly of the new filtration system in Sula got off to
a fabulous start and the team was anticipating that water production would start a few days early. Instead,
they discovered that there wasn’t enough water pressure to get the raw water up to the barrel sand filter on
the roof of the water building. Eventually, with some
creative thinking and the addition of a pump, the water
got to where it needed to go and clean water was
achieved on schedule.
Meanwhile, the Honduran folks who were planning to
act as educators for their community were missing in
action the first morning they were to be trained. Hard
feelings from a misunderstanding were eventually uncovered, a community meeting was held, and things
were sorted out. The educators ended up doing a
splendid job and even brought in a group of high school
students and a group of middle school students to learn
about the system. By fiesta time on Friday, everyone
was delighted by what they had achieved.
While the water system and education pieces were
coming together in Sula, a subset of the team visited
two previous installations (El Triunfo and El Naranjo)
and two potentially new installation sites (Las Bodegas
and La Jigua). El Triunfo continues to produce over
4,000 5-gal bottles a month (the highest rate of all installations in Honduras)! The newer installation, El Naranjo, is having growing pains. One large family has
been very active in running the system, and ownership
issues are starting to arise in the community. Luckily
we have stellar in-country staff to rely upon (Melvin Flores – in-country coordinator, Olvin Duron – in-country technician, and
Nineth Munguia – in-country educator). They will continue to help ensure things are going smoothly in El Naranjo when we can’t
be there.
In addition to the in-country LWW staff, we are blessed to have the help of USAID and other NGO’s that are working in both of the
two potential new installation communities. They have done a great deal of scouting already. Their water tests and reports of illnesses in the communities are similar to what we found and may be a big help in identifying additional installation sites nearby.
We feel tremendously blessed to have this opportunity to serve. There is nothing like working, eating and laughing alongside our
community partners in person. It is so fulfilling to give and to receive in this way. We couldn’t do this without your financial and
spiritual support. Thank you so much for making this possible!
If you would like to learn more about Deep Waters or attend one of our monthly meetings, please contact Rachel Budelsky at
[email protected] or 360-393-3269 for more details!
April 2015
Page 7
“INTENTIONAL SERVANT” OPPORTUNITY
On Maundy Thursday, the CTS community incorporates the rite of foot
washing into our service. Physical participation can be a soulful way of
reflecting on and renewing the commitment to follow Jesus’ example of
servanthood. It is a reminder we need continuously as we live in a culture
where getting ahead, economically, socially, professionally, etc. is uplifted.
Several of us would benefit spiritually by serving as foot washers, and many of
us by having our feet washed. Please pray about embracing this opportunity.
If you discern a call to serve as a foot washer, please contact one of these
three:
Church office:
[email protected]
733-1277
Ilene Green: [email protected] 647-8924
Troy Faith Ward [email protected] or 378-8900
CTS LIBRARY NEWS
Are you looking for some peace and quiet? A new way to serve CTS in 2015? We have a cadre of library aides who
take turns working in the library for about an hour at their convenience every few weeks. Duties include shelving
books returned to the library, processing newly donated books to be added to our collection, and generally maintaining order in the library. If this sounds like a mission that you would like to join, please contact Mary Solum,
738-8340, [email protected]. We are getting ready to schedule our work rotation for the next 12 months and
would gladly include new volunteers who would like to serve with us. The library is always open so please come in
and check us out.
Special Easter Offering Shares Blessings
and Hope
This year our special Easter Offering will be shared in three ways!
The first $300 will provide a computer for an employee of Living Waters for
the World in Honduras
Half of remainder will support One Spirit Medical Missions in Haiti.
The other half of the remainder will go to Catch the Son Preschool Scholarship Fund and Family Assistance Fund.
We celebrate being able to share God’s generous blessings in ways that
extend mission and ministry far beyond our walls. Thanks for your generosity!
Page 8
Servants’ Song
God’s Work—Our Hands!
Faith and Everyday Life
long for comfort and rest at times.
Southern Comfort
Some labor hard and get little. Their concept of comfort
might be falling into bed to sleep, not to rest up, but to get
relief from the relentless strain of scraping by a meager
living. For these there is no southern comfort.
Ah, what an image this conjures: Large white mansions
with wrap-around porches, ladies in hooped skirts and
parasols, men in white suits with fedoras on a summer’s
afternoon. Gone with the Wind!
Southern comfort is a luxury. It doesn’t come every day
but we should embrace it when it comes. Did not God sit
While there was hard work, this kind of comfort was never on a veranda and enjoy a Southern Comfort on the sevthe less real. No wonder the manufacturer of this bourbon enth day? We should also pray for and work for those who
wants to call this image to mind and have you order a
have no hope of such comfort.
drink. Of course you don’t get the plantation when you get
To whom much has been given,
the drink, but somewhere in your subconscious lurks the
lord or lady of the manor who now sits to enjoy the fruits much shall be required.
of their industry.
Lutheran Counseling Network—(360)
Our conscious dream might be just relaxing, going out to
enjoy nature or indulging in some favorite activity. We all
715-2166 ext. 2
Melanie Springer Cool, MA, LMCH
A Thank You from our Preschool!
Thrivent Financial Care In Communities Fund is matching $750 to funds raised at
our annual Catch the Son Preschool Auction. Your donations of gifts and services
were great! Even better was the chance for members of the congregation to meet
and celebrate the preschool with current and former Catch the Son families.
Many, many thanks to all those who gave hours and hours of time and heart—
especially our Preschool Director, Ms. Kathy Dooley!!!!
Lunch-Timers—
April 8th, 12:00pm
Save the Date!!!!!
The Willows
Gather again at the Willows Lunch Room for
fellowship and program. This month we’ll hear of
our latest trip to Honduras, as well as our Global
Mission Committee’s vision for steps of shared
ministry in the next few years.
Lunch is either a hot entrée OR a custom-made deli
sandwich. Both include soup, salad and dessert for
$7.00. No dishes or cleanup is necessary—Yahoo!!!!
The Willows is just a block away from St. Joseph’s
Hospital—at the northwest corner of St. Joe’s, just
north of the St. Francis Care Center.
Vacation Bible
School
July 27-31
April 2015
HEALTH MINISTRY Updates
April 2015
THE HEALTH MINISTRY AT CTS IS ALIVE AND WELL.
We are now called the Health Ministry Committee,
and we were very busy last year and continue to
serve this year.
Through our Prayer Shawl Ministry, now in its eleventh year, we distributed over 200 shawls, many of
them given to those in Oso, and others went to Winthrop and Nicaragua.
We have given 12 grief baskets to those who have
lost loved ones. In addition, each month we write an
article for the newsletter. At least 20 Parishioners
have their Blood Pressures checked at our monthly
clinic. Last year Mike Hoagland helped us by giving
medication reviews during those clinics, and we also
held an educational program on End of Life decisions.
The committee also supports a Wellness series, the
Hearing Health Ministry and Lutheran Counseling Services.
The Parish Nurses and Health Minister have also
made phone calls, home visits and hospital visits to
help parishioners with their needs and helping them
find resources. If you feel you need a health advocate, or have questions about which health resources
are available, please call us anytime.
Recently I had some health issues and some of my
medications were changed. This brought to my mind
an article sent from the City of Bellingham about disposing of old and/or unused medications. As our
committee believes in caring for the environment, I
found it very interesting.
In the past we did not think of old medications
getting into the wrong hands or polluting the waterway, drinking water or Bellingham Bay. We would
just flush them in the toilet, put them in the trash or
store them with our other medications even though
they were unused or expired.
It is now known that medications sent down toilets
or sink drains can get into the bay or rivers, adversely
affecting fish and aquatic wildlife. Medications
placed in trash cans end up in landfills and can leach
into ground water.
So the question is: what do we do with them? In
Page 9
our county, we now have a return program so that
medications can go participating pharmacies. However, narcotics need to be taken to law enforcement.
How do you return your medications?
Check the accepted items list for example:
Household prescriptions and samples
Over the counter medications
Medicine for pets
Medicated ointments/lotions
Vitamins
Inhalers
Unopened EpiPens

Leave medications in their original containers.

Mark out any personal information, if you wish.

Take medicine to pharmacy counter

Pharmacies cannot accept narcotics (controlled
substances)

Take narcotics to participating law enforcement
locations (phone ahead)

Participating pharmacies in Bellingham include:

Haggen Pharmacies at Fairhaven, Barkley Village
and Meridian

Hoagland Pharmacy

Interfaith Pharmacy

Call your pharmacy if you do not see it on this list
and ask if they are participating.
By taking these simple steps, we can prevent others
from accidentally misusing our medications or having
them fall into the wrong hands and also protect our
environment.
For more information check the Household Medication Return Program--City of Bellingham.
Yours in Christ,
Carol Ham, Parish Nurse 595-2022
Page 10
Servants’ Song
God’s Work—Our Hands!
A message from the Stewardship Committee
and Deep Waters:
From the offerings and prayers of the members of CTS
and others, to the time and talent of the people who go on
these water system installation trips, Stewardship Grows.
Our Honduran friends are a blessing to us and share a lesson in stewardship as they run these system faithfully and
share the resulting gifts with each other and those around
them who are less fortunate.
Stewardship Witnessed
In the village of el Triunfo on a 100 degree Honduran day,
while on a clean water site survey, one CTS team member
said,” I was having some stomach issue myself that day. It
was so hot and I felt sick. I couldn’t imagine not having
clean water to drink”. The CTS Deep Waters survey team
tested the water in this community and having to wait for
the results until after they returned to the USA, made no
promises to the people of el Triunfo that they could indeed
help with their water.
The following day, in 100 degree heat, Degny Lasso, a
member of the el Triunfo community, rode his bike 60
miles one way to the village of La Cosecha, where we were
having a celebration for the successful installation of their
clean water system. His request, “Please don’t forget my
community.”
Water tests revealed that along with bacterial contamination, el Triunfo needed to remove arsenic from their water. No Living Waters for the World system had done that
to date. We were not sure if we could. A year and a half
later after much prayer and work, Deep Waters was
cleared for the clean water system needed to treat this
water. This was the first Living Waters for the World reverse osmosis system installed in Honduras. It is more time
consuming to run
than standard
systems and is
more difficult to
maintain. Yet this
community is not
only running the
system and
meeting their
community’s clean water needs, they are using the profits
from the clean water sales to benefit their community.
In a recent visit to el Triunfo, Degny was asked how he
thought things were going with the water system. “It has
passed my dreams a thousand times a thousand!” Since
the installation of this system in November of 2012, this
community has clean water for all of its residents and used
its water sales proceeds to finish their church, build an additional building for their school and buy granaries for their
corn harvest. When poorer members of the community
need corn, they can take what they need and replace it in
the coming year from their harvests.
While in Honduras this past week, we learned that el Triunfo has purchased a water truck. They are producing 4000
five gallon bottles each month. This is far more than any
other system in Honduras and surpasses their community’s
needs. There are many poor small villages that have no
clean water and are not serviced by the large water companies because delivering there is not profitable. Degny
uses the water truck to deliver clean water to those villages.
Stewardship Grows
Deep Waters installs clean water systems in communities
with polluted water. We share this system as a ministry and
ask that the communities who receive the systems sell the
water at half the commercial rate and give a certain percentage of water away to those who can’t afford it and to
their churches and schools. If you are interested in being a
part of the Deep Waters missions please contact the church
office.
April 2015
Page 11
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
2013-2015 Capital Campaign
Dear Friends,
March 2015 marks the official completion of the 3year Capital Campaign, “Reaching Up, Reaching Out.”
We are thankful for your attention and giving to this
project. Much has been accomplished.

Journeyed through a process of discerning
how we can best use our current space for
present and future ministry.

Shared a grand “kick off” time, including creating the “God's Work, Our Hands” mosaic
that now graces the North Wing hallway.

Repaired and re-shingled the entire North
Wing of our buildings, including creating new
skylights, new entry doors at one end, and
new security doors at another.

Replaced the flooring in the entire North Wing
and the Common Grounds room, including
new replaceable carpet squares in the classrooms and the multi-purpose room, with spill
proof laminate in the fellowship area.
Middle and High School Youth.

Soon we will see the raising of an eight foot
high wall with windows and doorway that will
transform our original Narthex into a multipurpose classroom, chapel, and waiting area.

And we have reduced our mortgage by nearly
$100,000 with funds received beyond the cost
of our remodeling and repair projects.
Thank you for your fulfilled pledges and gifts to make
all of this possible as we live out our calling to be
 Remodeled our original sanctuary, transform- servants of our Lord in this world. If you have not
ing one large space into two distinctively de- completed your pledge and still want to, you can confined areas: a true multi-purpose area for our tinue to give to this Capital Campaign knowing your
preschool and youth activities (with dedicated gift will continue to reduce the principal on our current mortgage.
closet/storage) and a new Education and
Meeting space that has now become the most
Join us in celebrating the completion of this Capital
requested space in our building.
Campaign at our Semi-Annual Meeting, June 7th.

In Christ's service, Cindy Petersen, Rick Congdon,
Transformed a large classroom into a dedicatKathy Dooley, Pastor Eric Finsand
ed Youth Room, wired and furnished by our
Page 12
Servants’ Song
God’s Work—Our Hands!
Camp is always fun and full of stories,
especially when it rains! The spring Elementary Retreat at Camp Lutherwood
lived into those stories in creative ways!
Camp was packed with kids from south
of Seattle all the way to the border, including 15 of our own from CTS!
“Everyone was caring and
fun!”
~Emma Moore
Dean Hagin stayed with the 9 Boys in
the Outback cabin while Lisa stayed
with the 6 girls in the Ark. We started
with games and worship in the chapel,
charmed by the games, skits, and songs
of the staff (with names like Grizz,
Reepicheep, and Nettles) and topped
off with a smore.
“We did lots of fun stuff! The best
part was the canoeing. In Bible
study we learned about not giving
money to homeless people but giving food.” ~ Curtis Adler
Jesus said to him,
"I am the way,
and the truth,
and the life...”
~John 14:6
“Lutherwood was really fun
and I can’t wait to go back!”
~ Grace Doud
We journeyed through 6 rotations, including canoeing, low challenge course,
crafts, and 3 interactive lessons on how
Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The
Life. In these lessons we learned about
kindness through love notes, shared 2
truths and a lie, creating Grace Bags and
made Sabbath Sundaes of homemade
ice cream. Of course there was lots of
time for games like Pterodactyl and QTip Dodgeball as well!
Thanks for the memories! Be sure to
sign up for summer camp by April 15 to
enjoy the early bird discount
“It was an amazing & awesome
time! We learned about canoeing,
team building, & other excellent
things. We learned about the Way &
the Truth and the Life, & had a
great time together! ~ Soren Ficklin
April 2015
Game Night
April 17, 6:30-8:15 pm
Page 13
National Youth Gathering
Fundraiser
Fair Trade chocolates, cards with calligraphy & art by
Laura Norton, Honduran fresh roasted coffee by Tierra
Nueva and infinity scarves by Sidney Evans have been
ON SALE in the Narthex leading up to Easter. Items everyone can feel good about! Thanks for supporting the
youthin their mission work in Detroit this summer!
Minute to Win It
March Games
Join in the fun! Group games, snacks and a
devotion for 5th-8th graders.
Sign up in youth room or connect with Lisa: 360.685.3362 or
[email protected]
Join Hands Day May 2
People across the nation participate in a day of service.
Come to Lutherwood and help with projects, participating with other youth from Whatcom County. Carpool
from CTS at 8:30am return after lunch at 1:00pm. Sign
up today! Adults & families welcome!
Whatcom Go Night
Do you have the energy to stay up all night? We have the activities to keep you going! We
will carpool to Camp Lutherwood for field games and a campfire worship then head to
town to the Trampoline Zone and swimming at Arne Hanna. After, we will return for the
rest of the night at CTS with movies and games and a sunrise breakfast. Open to all Lutheran Whatcom County church Youth (6-12th grade) and friends! 7pm—7am, small fee TBD.
Summer Events
Lopez Island Bike Trip ••• Fri-Sun, June 26-28 ••• $45 & sack lunch
Let the fresh air sail over your helmet as you cruise the rolling hills of Lopez Island with new friends and old
from CTS. We will stay in a cabin & tent at the southern tip of the island near Agate Beach, enjoy campfires
and walks out to Iceberg Point. This trip is full of diversity and fun and of course biking! Open to those entering 6th-12th grade. Bring your own multi-speed street bike. A group practice ride along the interurban this
spring would be a great way to refresh our skills!
Vacation Bible School ••• July 27-31 ••• Theme: Welcome!
Middle School and High School Youth are invited to be Crew Leaders of small groups during this exciting, faith-building week. The
Program runs 9– noon daily, but Crew Leaders are needed at 8:45 am. Get volunteer hours, gain leadership skills and play with kids
all at the same time! Rewarding and fun! Incoming 6th graders will be paired with experienced Crew Leaders when possible.
Summer Camp
Get the Early Bird discount now & register for summer camp! CTS will pay 50% of your camp fees at Lutherwood when you use the
coupon code: CTScampers. Programs for all ages, from a 2 night Embers Camp to the high school Counselor-In-Training Program for
HS (extra funding too). Lisa will be guest staff the week of August 2nd-7th, so CTS campers are encouraged to come this week.
Page 14
Servants’ Song
God’s Work—Our Hands!
Preschool Spring Break
April 6th—10th
Christ the Servant
Lutheran Church
2600 Lakeway Dr.
Bellingham, WA 98229
Phone (360) 733-1277
Fax (360)734-7246
[email protected]
You are welcome at
Christ the Servant!
Worship Schedule
Services at 8:30 & 11:00a.m.
Sunday School at 9:45
All are welcome!
Our Office is open
Monday-Friday
from 9:00 am—1:00 pm.
Call us at 733-1277
Our Ministry is shared
by all members, including:
Pastor Eric Finsand
(cell) 360-325-2481
[email protected]
Youth Ministries Dir.
Lisa Cornwell
(cell) 360-685-3362
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor—Anita Stoffer
Office Administrative Assistant
Jean Ross
360-733-1277
[email protected]
Church Custodians
Health Ministers—
Carol Ham—595-2022
Claudia Ackerman—733-3688
Jeanne Brotherton—671-3935
Lutheran Counseling Network—
Melanie Cool—715-2166 ext2
Servants’ Song - God’s Work, Our Hands!.
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage Paid
Bellingham, WA
PERMIT NO. 46
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED