1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

TH E CURR ENT
CHRISTUS VICTOR LUTHERAN CHURCH
The People of Christus Victor, ministers
Rev. Fred Suhr, Pastor
“Whoever believes in Me, streams of living water will flow from his heart.”
July 2015
John 7:38
Volume 31, No. 7
Worship Schedule
“Nothing is Impossible With God!”
I have always looked forward to Vacation Bible School!
Sunday, July 5
This year has been no exception. I think I like VBS so
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship Service, 8:00 am
Breakfast, 8:45-9:15 am
No Sunday School
Worship Service, 10:30 am
much because I always come away with renewed
Sunday, July 12
cannot think of a better way to begin Vacation Bible
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Worship Service, 8:00 am
No Sunday School
Worship Service, 10:30 am
Sunday, July 19
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship Service, 8:00 am
Breakfast, 8:45-9:15 am
No Sunday School
Worship Service, 10:30 am
insight and faith. Consider the following lesson from
VBS. “For nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37).
When we kicked off this year’s Vacation Bible School,
“Hometown Nazareth,” these words from Luke’s
Gospel served as our key verse for the first night. I
School (or any other activity, calling, or mission for that
matter) than with those words! All too often, so many
of the things we hear and experience in this world seem
to point to the impossible. But God tells and shows us
otherwise! The Biblical witness expresses that over and
over. Childless Abraham looks at the heavens and sees
stars… God sees descendants through Abraham. Simon
Peter looks at his net and sees it empty… Jesus sees a
breaking net and full catch. Mary struggles to
understand how she can bear a son… God sees the
mother of the Savior. “Nothing is impossible with God!” It
is critical to note that this isn’t a verse simply calling us
to positive thinking or perseverance. In fact, the verse is
Sunday, July 26
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship Service, 8:00 am
No Sunday School
Worship Service, 10:30 am
not about us…it’s about God! God is faithful! No matter
how impossible something may seem, if God says that
it will be done – it will! We may be graced or blessed to
be a part of God’s action, but it is still God who
accomplishes the task, activity, calling or mission.
”Nothing is Impossible With God!”
Calling on All Those Serving and Willing to Serve….
CVLC members are very active in our community serving in many ways.. individually and as a church. I have heard
many of you speak about Rotary, Sharing God’s Love, Lutheran Family Services; Senior Resources, Campus Ministry;
Seminary/Senate events and ministries; as well as individual activities like making blankets and hats for infants in the
hospital; making baskets for new mothers; volunteering at hospitals; visiting or becoming involved with services for
the elderly at retirement homes; delivering food to shut ins; working with Habitat and Helping Hands, and many
many more.
It seems very fitting that we gather together in a cooperative effort to do “ministry” together and it would be
wonderful to know what folks are doing and what more we can be doing. Most importantly how and where we can
serve in making Christ known in the community. I would like to invite all who are currently serving in our community
and/or interested in being a part of the Witness Team to attend a team meeting Sunday June 28 following our 10:30
service. Please help me and the few others from this team that have worked to maintain an active ministry at CVLC.
DeeDee Kehl – Witness Team Leader
A Busy Summer for Our Christus Victor Youth!
While summer is often seen as a time of moving at a slower and less active pace, our Youth must have missed that
memo! They have been – and are busy throughout these summer months. From June 14 th-18th, our Youth were involved
as either students or helpers in our Vacation Bible School. Their contributions helped make our 2015 “Journey to
Nazareth” a success! From June 19th-21st, three of our youth, Emily Edis, Olivia Keaton, and Kayla Wendland
represented our CVLC Youth at the South Carolina Synod Lutheran Church Youth Convention – “Together We Rise” at
Newberry College! July is proving to be equally as busy! A number of our youth are joining their families to participate
in our congregational beach retreat to the Coastal Retreat Center at the Isle of Palms from July 2 nd-5th. Afterwards,
seven of our youth and (and three adults) will be traveling to Detroit, Michigan, to join approximately 30,000 other
youth and adults from July 15th-19th for the ELCA National Youth Gathering – “Rise Up Together!” Of course, in
addition to these church events, a number of our youth will be going to Lutheridge, Lutherock, or other camps and
activities during the remainder of this fast-moving summer! Please keep them and their families in your prayers for
safe travels and faith-filled experiences! Also, thank you for your offerings and special gifts which make many of these
experiences possible!
Christus Victor Lutheran Men in Mission
It has been a real joy to see our Lutheran Men becoming active again at Christus Victor! During the June breakfast
meeting, Shari Selke, Executive Director of Sharing God’s Love, provided insight into this important community
ministry which we support financially, and with volunteers. On Saturday, July 18 th, Blake Brown, Program Director of
the Columbia Northwest Family YMCA, will be our guest! Our monthly meetings usually run from 8am – 10 am, and
include an amazing breakfast! Meeting dates for the remainder of the year are August 15, September 19, October 17,
November 14, and December 19. Come join this group for fellowship and service! For additional information about
Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) please speak to Tom Counts or Tim Livingston.
Open Your Heart and Home to a Lutheran Exchange Student from Germany
Volunteer host families (with or without children) as well as single people are needed to provide food, a bed and a
loving home for the coming school year, one or two semesters, starting in August. EMF students have medical
insurance, spending money for their personal expenses and expect to share their host family’s daily life including
household responsibilities. They speak English, are well-screened and eager to experience life in America. Their stay
here is sponsored and supervised by EMF (Educational Merit Foundation), a non-profit, educational exchange
program. It is not too late to apply. For more information on EMF students, please call Marie-Claude Dijoud now at 1800-467-8363 or visit our web site at www.emfusa.org.
Upcoming Events
+
Family Beach Retreat, 7/2-5
+
National Youth Gathering, 7/15-19
+
Rally Day, 8/30
+
Wonderful Wednesdays Resume, 9/9
+
Bazaar, 10/24
Women’s Book Club
The CVLC Women’s Book Club welcomes new
members, so if you are interested in joining our group,
please contact Jean at 781-5236 or Patti at 732-3828.
Sharing God’s Love
7/20
Sycamore Row: A Novel, John Grisham
8/17
The Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of an American
Adventurer and His Mysterious Disappearance,
David Herlihy
9/21
Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
Current pantry needs at Sharing God’s Love are Raman
noodles, peanut butter and jelly, canned soup, baked
beans, assorted beans, tuna, ham, chicken, salmon, peas,
carrots, potatoes and fruit. Household and personal care
needs are toilet paper, deodorant, feminine care items,
shampoo,
laundry
soap,
dish
soap,
incontinent
products, and diapers. We are always accepting gently
used clothing and shoes, accessories, small appliances,
table wares, bedding, towels, and books. Summer is
here and the children are home, please help your
community with a generous donation to Sharing God's
Love. Donations may be brought to Sharing God's Love
at 147 Friarsgate Blvd. Monday thru Friday - 9 am to 12
pm or leave it in the bin in the church narthex.
Summer Sunday School
Sunday School is taking a break over the summer. There
will be no Sunday school classes on Sunday mornings.
Join us again on Rally Day, August 30.
To sign up to be on our list to receive weekly emails
details
about
the
upcoming
Sunday,
11/16 My Reading Life, Pat Conroy
Notes of Thanks
Dear Fellow Members in Christ,
Thank you all so much for your prayers, cards, well
wishes and the wonderful meal you provided. It has
made my recovery period much easier to get through.
Thanks again, Judy Livingston
Pastor Fred & Congregation,
Thank you all so much for the outpouring of love over
the last week, whether it was a card, phone call,
bringing food, serving food, attending visitation or
Dad’s celebration of life. He loved his church family
and we can see why. You all are the BEST!!
Love, Tina, Teri and family of Jim Dry
Sign up for CVLC Online Weekly Emails
with
10/19 Farewell: The Greatest Spy Story of the Twentieth
Century, Sergei Kostin & Eric Raynaud
and
occasional announcements and prayer requests, please
email [email protected].
Check Out Our Website
Check out our website at cvlconline.com. The church
Church Calendar
Please check the church calendar before you schedule
activities at the church. Current calendars are available
online at our website, and are also posted in the
narthex and in the workroom. All are updated weekly.
Additionally, the calendar is included in the newsletter
that is sent to your house monthly. Thank you for
making sure we have no scheduling conflicts.
news, serving schedules, calendar, and prayers are
updated weekly. In addition, church calendars can be
Open Flower Dates
found on the bulletin board in the narthex and in the
We have some open dates on our flower chart:
September 27,
6. Sign
up in the narthex. Flowers are $31 per vase.
workroom.
Members who are homebound
Peggy Johnston, Woody Lanning
Those who are ill
Mary Ann Blessing, Larry & Becky Brown,
Don Fairbanks, Barbara Kleinrock, Judy Livingston,
Bob Meyer, George Mills, Lana Rosenbeck
Travis Brown, Hilarie Bank s’ friend
John Carver, Beverly Meye r’s friend
Summers Duffie
Jack Enright, friend o f the co m m unity
Anna Lee Gordon, Ginger Sto ud enm ire ’s mother
Jim Johnston
Hailey Krabbe, friend o f the Canno ns
Eileen Manigold, Marie Marszalek ’s daughter
Connie Hendrix Morgan, friend o f Sue & Dave So lt
Elizabeth Morton, friend o f CVLC
Scott Nix, Canno ns’ nephew
James Springman, Marie Marszalek ’s son
Alan Thompson, Janet Ro binso n’s brother
In praise and thanksgiving
A special measure of your grace
For all those who have been impacted by the violence at
Emanuel AME Church in Charleston
For the friends and family of Carroll Eargle, Frank Eargle ’s
uncle
For Lex Coulter, Hilarie Bank s’ friend
For Yvonne Phipps & daughter Heather Patrick
For Robin Steinhilper
For all veterans and those presently serving in the military
For our Bishop and SC Synod staff
For expectant parents Ashlyn & Elliott Cox; Justin & Lisa
Robinson
For those who have lost and are searching for jobs
For students at seminaries as they discern God’s call and
grow in discipleship, especially our CVLC students:
Diana Edis, Rusty Kehl, and Drew Yoos
For our enemies and for reconciliation
Prayer for Peace
God of all creation, bring your peace to all places and
hearts that hunger for it. Bring understanding and peace to
the descendants of Abraham, especially Jewish people,
Muslims and Christians, that we may live together in
harmony and work on behalf of the poor. Amen
Constant and Unchanging
Summer’s arrival feels positive to many people but may not be smooth for all. Families who rely on regular school
meals for their children must stretch grocery dollars further. Heat poses risks for elderly people who lack air
conditioning. Work can be difficult to find in the summer months, and uncertainty looms for recent graduates.
Meanwhile, concerns such as wars, natural disasters and health problems don’t take a summer break.
St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582) prayed, “May you be blessed forever, Lord, for being constant and unchanging, amidst
all the changes of the world.” Her prayer is as appropriate today as nearly 500 years ago. When all around us is
unstable and unreliable, God’s love and faithfulness are constant and trustworthy.
July Birthdays
01 Brody Smith
09 Tyler Chambers
18 Bobby White
26 Barbara Chambers
03 Larry Brown
10 Becky Cannon
20 Emma Gambrell
26 Amanda Davis Greene
03 Maggie Oliver
10 Jenna Grover
20 Christy Wendland
27 Kathy Stephens
06 Judy Livingston
11 Jenny Spearen
22 Elizabeth Meade
27 Laura Vinson
07 Ralph Ford
14 Kayla Nichols
22 Wil Meade
29 Donna Cook
07 Lori Stock
14 David Suhr
24 Sue Barr
29 Grace Weed
08 Katelyn Chambers
14 Robyn Westphal
24 Laurie Bunn
29 Sue Williams
08 Gloria McSorley
18 Elliott Kester
24 Caroline Weber
31 Zack Kochert
Christus Victor Lutheran Church, founded in 1986, is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Set
in the dynamic Harbison/Irmo area of central South Carolina, it has grown into an active lively Christian
fellowship. At the heart of our ministry is the desire to bring the light of Christ to those who live and work in the
community.
There are many opportunities for spiritual growth and nurture at Christus Victor. Our ministry programs
provide opportunities for worship, learning, service and fellowship so that all might be strengthened in faith
and might grow in Christian discipleship. If you are looking for a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ in a
lively congregational setting, we invite you to make Christus Victor your church home.
Lutherans are Christians who comprise the largest Protestant denomination in the world. As Lutheran
Christians, we believe and teach:
Jesus Christ is Lord of all life.
We are all sinners in need of God's love and grace.
We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone, apart from our works.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of the church's
proclamation, faith and life.
The church is the fellowship of those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and is the primary
expression of God's love on earth. It is a people created by God, empowered by the Holy
Spirit, called and sent to bear witness to God's creative and redeeming work in the world.
We celebrate two sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion, as the God-given means for penetrating our lives with love
and grace.
Worship - Two worship services weekly, 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. with Holy Communion received at both
services each Sunday; Mid-week services during Lent; Children's sermons weekly; Children's church weekly;
Adult, and children's choirs
Learning - Sunday School for all ages; Vacation Bible School; Confirmation instruction
Fellowship - Congregational fellowship events; Groups for men, women and youth; Neighborhood shepherding
groups for care and nurture; Small groups for personal growth in faith and fellowship
Christus Victor Lutheran Church
400 Harbison Boulevard
Columbia, South Carolina 29212-1711
(803) 732-2668; website: cvlconline.com
Secretary email: [email protected]
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Irmo, SC
Permit #15