January 2015 Inside this issue: HALLUCINATING Events and Highlights 2 People have OBEs and NDEs – out of body and near death experiences. Lately a spate of books has come out, detailing neural episodes that involve Christian imagery. One of the most popular is Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife by Eban Alexander. Another, Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo is the basis for a recent Hollywood film. These books make the claim that secular, materialistic science, far from refuting religion, actually confirms the Bible-based notions of the afterlife believers have held all along. Our Church Family 3 From Our Church 4-5 News and Notes 6-7 Get Involved! 8-9 Volunteer Schedule 10 Calendar 11 What are we to make of this? I take as my point of departure the analysis of Oliver Sacks, himself a neuroscientist and popular author (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat). In a 2012 article in The Atlantic Sacks writes that OBEs and NDEs are real but not of supernatural origin. “They are part of the normal range of human consciousness and experience.” Sacks labels them “hallucinations” and points out “that they deploy the very same systems in the brain that actual perceptions do.” I think it is prudent and wise to let science speak in the areas where its writ legitimately runs. A hallucination is a hallucination. But the sixteenth century reformers taught us that it is dangerous to speak of spiritual matters without reference to the cross. The good news is that our hope of heaven is based on the death and resurrection of Christ and not on any human experience. The old dogmaticians spoke of salvation as extra nos, blessedly outside of us, not confirmed by our feelings but given by God as an unearnable gift. The Epiphany season points us to Jesus, Light of the world. Not to be confused with the brightness beheld in intracranial happenings. I will post more comments on this subject on Mt. Carmel’s Facebook page. Watch for them, and please add your thoughts. bgw Sunday Worship at Mt. Carmel 8:45 am Traditional Service 10:00 am Adult Forum Sunday School 11:00 am Contemporary Service Holy Communion is offered at all Sunday worship services. Child care available on Sundays 8:45 am-12:15 pm. 2 Events and Highlights ANNOUNCING SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEW YEAR! Here is something to look forward to in 2015: Mt Carmel will host our 3rd Annual Interfaith Series beginning Sunday, Jan 12, thru Feb 16. The 2015 series theme is “WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS A GOD?” Leaders from a number of faith expressions will be with us to discuss their personal and/or corporate experiences in an informal setting with q & a time for listeners included. Sessions will be in the multi-purpose room at 10:00 am and 12:30 pm. The schedule for the series is Jan 12 – Richard Carsel, Attorney and Jewish Community Leader Jan 19 – Ron Richards, Minister SLO Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Jan 25 – Dr. Deborah Wilhelm, Roman Catholic Liturgist Feb 1 - Dr. Todd Long, Cal Poly Professor of Religion Feb 8 – Carol McFall, Practitioner, SLO Christian Science Church Feb 15 – Naiyerah Kolkailah, President Islamic Society of SLO County Community The series is intended to deepen community-wide understanding between differing faith traditions and the series will be open to the public as well as to Mt Carmel members and guests. Join us on January 10, for some “female fellowship” It was decided at the last Women’s Retreat that the group wanted to create more opportunities to come together. Once a quarter, we will be gathering and walking various labyrinths around the County. The first event will be on Saturday, January 10. Meet at Suzanne Gorter’s, 1455 5th St. Los Osos, and we will walk the labyrinth in Los Osos. Didn’t attend the Retreat? We don’t care! Come join us! Get your brown bag ready! Start the new year off by coming to the Brown Bag Lunch Group, Friday, January 9, at noon. Topics vary, but our speakers are always interesting and entertaining. Bring your brown bag lunch, a friend and join us. Have a topic you want to hear about? Suggestions always definitely appreciated. Contact Nancy Priddy, 544-6410 January 2015 3 Our Church Family We Remember in Prayer Homebound or unable to get out often: Russ & LaVanne Anderson; Don & Sally Eggen; Bill Hopper; Flo Krumhaus; Constance Petersen; Althea Schmidt; Shirley Simmons; Bud & Pearl Thoma; Midge Stettner and Becki Iannsee; Beth Peterson; Len Mansell; PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY: January 4: Joel, Debbie, Kyle, & Elyse Peterson; Larry & Beth Peterson; Marshall, Riley, & Sarah Pihl; January 25: Pat Ramsay; Ryan, Martha, & Andre Reck; Sally Reck; Walt & Helen Rehm; Irene Reis; Wendy & Emily Reis. January 11: Cynthia Polk, Donavin Bacon, Daisy Kessler, Cash Kessler; James & Gail Porter; Mary Ann Presswood, Elizabeth Bingham January 18: Glenn & Nancy Priddy; David Quist; Steve, Cynthia, & Annie Quist; Warren & Betty Ann Quist 1-11-92: Bob and Teresa Hendrix 1-15-10: Nancy and Seymour Nicolaisen 1-27-68: Pat & Cindy Hill January Birthdays 7 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 13 13 13 15 15 16 17 19 19 19 22 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 27 29 Ed Dresp Clare Weidner Jerry Kirkhart Bob Harvey Sally Eggen Gerda Culwell Timothea Tway Robert C. Grosse Heather Babcock Erin Garnsey Annamarie Fuchs Nancy Priddy Donley Winger John Morse Jack Peschong Cameron Dong Sheryl Huffaker Janis Stansfield Karen Weber Jeannie Fuess Maia Malone-Davison Caleb Hensinger Irene Reis Judy Burroughs Carlyn Hinds Elsa Brody Ryan Mansell Jude Zepeda Bryan Gingg Please let us know if we missed your birthday Mount Carmel Staff Rev. Bruce Wollenberg Ingrid Frokjer Rachel Valliere Paul Woodring Ruth Rollefson Mark Pietri Karen Weber Tony Bloodworth John Domingo Interim Pastor Director of Children & Teens Ministry Lutheran Campus Ministry Director Organist Director, Sacred Arts Choir Director of Contemporary Music Child Care Provider Custodian Temporary Parish Administrator Church Office Hours 8:00—4:30 Monday- Friday Phone 805-544-2133 Fax 544-5356 Email: [email protected] www.mtcarmelslo.org Lutheran Campus Ministry Email: [email protected] www.lcmslo.org Our pastoral staff is here for you. In time of crisis, please contact the church. January 2015 4 From Our Church Family Paul Woodring is Retiring as Choir Director “After 20 years of enjoyable, exciting, and satisfying work with the Sacred Arts Choir, I have decided that the time has come to retire from my position as choir director. My last service with the choir was on Christmas Eve. My main reason for retiring is that between my three jobs (2 churches and Cal Poly) I don't have the time I need to pursue some other activities that I'm trying to bring into my life. I didn't make this decision lightly, and although it is the right thing for me to do, it weighs rather heavily on me. I am hoping that with the Council's approval I will stay on as organist for the 8:45 service. Plans for the Sacred Arts Choir are pending, while the Council, Pastor and I, along with other interested persons, discuss the issue. I can't begin to thank all those past and present who have made my time as choir director a genuine joy. I will treasure my many, many wonderful memories and experiences!” Dec. 6, A Magical Day at Mt. Carmel After visiting their dads at CMC, a bus full of 38 children, ages 0 – 17, 2 adult children, various chaperones, bus driver and moms, arrived for a party at Mt. Carmel. They were greeted with welcome signs and escorted off the bus by their hosts. Everyone was given a homemade cookie to decorate. Each table was supplied with frosting, sprinkles, everything needed to create a beautiful holiday cookie. Hidden away in the “Bible Room” was Santa, aka David Bobell. WOW, was he a great Santa!. One at a time, families were escorted back for a surprise visit. Santa heard their Christmas wishes and gave each one a HEAVILY stuffed stocking. The stockings had been made by the women at the County Jail Honor Farm and items in the stockings were donated by folk around SLO. Ingrid and the College director from Front Porch had set up activity areas, such as a bean bag toss, craft table or just outside play time. The areas were supervised by college and high school volunteers. When is was time for the guests to leave, volunteers picked up a sack lunch and a bus ornament for each person, got hugs good-by and then everyone chased the bus down the street for a final farewell. Again, it was MAGICAL! Thank you to everyone who donated, participated and supported. You have given these children a beautiful Christmas memory. January 2015 5 Thank You Dear Mt Carmel Parishioners and Staff: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your prayers and good wishes regarding my overall health. My diagnosis is Intractable Bipolar Affective Disorder. Intractable means difficult to treat. Yet it looks like in the past month the right medication combination has finally been found. Two medications--Abilify and Seroquel have so far been exceptional at stabilizing my moods. I'm so happy to be doing so much better and I know that all of your prayers and good wishes have been instrumental to my overall good health. Since I am doing so well, I'd like to do more to help out at Mt. Carmel, my home church since April of 2005. My cell phone number is (805) 704-5997 and my e-mail [email protected]. Anything I can do for Mt. Carmel, I 'm honored. God bless all of you! A very special thanks to the late Pastor Marcus and to Pastor Marj for prayers, good wishes, and kindness. Christ definitely has worked through the two of you. And Nancy Priddy, Janis Sexton, and Pastor Bruce. The three of you have been so instrumental to my overall recovery. Also all of you at Mt. Carmel--God bless all of you now and always! And Ingrid--Thank you! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2014 and always. I have evolved from merely existing to actually living. Praise God. The journey since initial Bipolar diagnosis November 12, 1997 has been long and the longest stretch of mood stability was 6 of the past 17 years; thus intractable. God and Christ are awesome and I'm so proud to be a Lutheran! Parishioner Jeannie Ann Ledford Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Advent Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! On behalf of the members of the Santa Cruz Church, we express our heartfelt thanks for food items donated by your congregation. Especially during the winter months, our families in need will be blessed by your generosity in having access to basic food items for their families. Your kind and generous hearts are a blessing to your family members in Christ here at Santa Cruz Church. Amor en Cristo, Pastor Patricia Muran & Congregation Members Santa Cruz Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria, CA January 2015 6 News & Notes Friday Morning Bible Study When asked to name heroes in the Old Testament, we easily think of Abraham, or Joseph, or David. But what about Miriam, sister of Moses? What about Rahab, the unlikely ally? What about Abigail, the level-headed woman married to a man named “fool”? God also worked through women to lead, nurture, and save his people – some old, some young, some rich, some poor, and many of them outsiders to the faith. All of them were strong, intelligent, courageous, and have something to teach us. The Friday Morning Bible Study group is starting a 12-week series on the Women of the Old Testament on January 9. Come join us every Friday from 10:30noon at Steynberg gallery on Monterey (near Splash Café and Franks) for great coffee, conversation, and an in-depth look at God’s Word. Members Helping Members.... From time to time, members of Mt Carmel find themselves in a situation where they could use a bit of TLC. Maybe a few meals while recovering from an illness, a ride to church, or help with simple repairs around the house. In the past we have compiled a list with the 'Time and Talent' forms but it has been awhile since we have updated that list. Therefore, the Caring Ministry Team is starting up a new list so that we have a few names to draw from. This is a wonderful chance for new members to help where they can and ease the load for the longtime faithful members. One thing we can say about the Mt. Carmel family, they really do support their fellow members. You can add your name to the list by emailing Karen at [email protected], contact the church office, or by signing up on Sunday during January. Thanks for all you do. Children And Teens Looking ahead! Sunday School Epiphany Party (January 4) Family WinterFest (January 17-19) The Sunday School will celebrate Epiphany on January 4th during the Sunday School hour at 10am. Come join the fun! The Family WinterFest at El Camino Pines will be January 17-19 and it is a wonderful time to spend with your family and others from churches across our synod. The camp staff does a fabulous job planning a fun weekend for the kids and adults. Contact Ingrid in the church office for more information, or go to lrcchome.com to view the El Camino Pines website. Thank you to the Keislers for opening up your home for the annual CAT Christmas Dinner. It was a great time to celebrate the season and the ways that the Children and Teen Ministry team is helping to pass the faith on to our children. (Be sure to check the back cover for pics of recent activities) January 2015 7 Lutheran Campus Ministry enjoyed a wonderful December. We enjoyed our final mid-week gathering with another incredible dinner at the Keisler household. We also had an amazing Pancake Palooza with over 75 students during Cal Poly’s final exam week! Thanks to all the helpers. The Social Action Team and LCM had a great trip to Tijuana delivering all of the Christmas presents you so graciously bought! Each child got a gift, we painted 4 rooms of the church, played lots of games with the children and teenagers, celebrated Martha’s birthday and even ate a few (actually a lot!) of tacos. In Mexico we talked about how our relationship with God is just that - a relationship. Just like any other relationship here on earth, in order to communicate we both talk and listen. God wants the same of us. It takes practice and patience to listen to God and to hear his voice. One of my favorite passages about hearing God’s voice is in 1 Kings 19. It was not in the wind, fire or earthquake, but in the whisper. Have you taken the time to listen for God’s whisper? Take this New Year as an opportunity to hear from God in a new way. Look for his Spirit at work in your life through your daily activities. I dare you to look for Godmoments throughout your day and be surprised by his active presence in your life. To hear from God, we must read his Word to us. It is not ambiguous or secret, but God has made himself and his word manifest through Jesus Christ (Colossians 1), and he desires to work in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit (check it out, 1 Corinthians 2)! Happy New Year from Lutheran Campus Ministry, and thank you for your prayers and support for our trip to Mexico! Love, Rachel January 2015 8 Get Involved! People's Kitchen needs 5 new volunteers in 2015: two volunteers to bring a hot dish with 12 hearty servings three times in a year; two volunteers to bring a salad with 12 hearty servings three times in a year; and one volunteer to bring 2 gallons of milk three times in a year. If you'd like to help this important ministry, please call Laura Krueger at 458-6012. Thank you! People's Kitchen Fact of the Month: At Mt. Carmel, we have 60 food providers. Each month, 15 of those volunteers provide the meal on the first Friday of the month. Each person provides food three times per year. People’s Kitchen Aprons—Your Social Action Team recently decided that the Mt. Carmel People’s Kitchen serving crew should wear aprons to identify where the good food & caring servers come from. There might be other events where it would be appropriate or fun to wear a Mt. Carmel apron. As a result, we have placed an order with Grace in Action Detroit for 20 navy blue aprons with the Mt. Carmel logo silkscreened across the front. The aprons will probably be available in February at a cost of about $13. If you want an apron saved for you, please contact Sue Cummings at [email protected] or at 543-8972. Deadline for February “Summit” is January 16. E-mail submissions to [email protected] To the owner of Dwayne the Fish, who was left on Pastor Bruce’s car at the start of winter break: Dwayne is safe and sound. Please see Ingrid Frokjer to be reunited with the world’s coolest fish. HELP WANTED Would you consider being a part of Mt. Carmel's Altar Guild? No experience necessary On-the-job training and wonderful fellowship If you would consider being a part of this "special" group, please contact JEANIE SCHULTZ 543-2647 January 2015 9 SOCIAL ACTION TEAM The new 114th Congress has seen an increase in Lutherans serving our country, from 23 in the past to now 28 members. For updates of our advocacy efforts in Washington, go to elca.org/en/News-and-Events on the web. THANKS __ All the gifts for the children of Tijuana __ Support for homeless and GOB events in December ****************** We will continue to serve in 2015 Join Pastor Russ Gordon on a tour of Greece following the footsteps of St. Paul to Athens, Corinth, Philippi and more. Departure is April 18, 2015. Consider an extension of the beautiful Greek isles and Ephesus. For more info and a brochure, contact Russ at [email protected] or 704-2199. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE SPECIAL, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER SPONSORING FLOWERS FOR OUR CHANCEL. Each bouquet is $27.50 or $55.00. Thank you, Jeanie Schultz CHECK OUT FACEBOOK! Pr. Wollenberg has begun posting on Mt. Carmel's Facebook page. Consider reading, commenting and re-sending. National Youth Gathering Update Continuing on the road to Detroit! I’d like to send a huge THANK YOU to everybody who contributed to our stock fundraiser during November! We raised around $2,500 of the $10,000 that we need to go to the Rise Up! ELCA National Youth Gathering in Detroit next summer. That’s a huge chunk! Right now we have 8 youth and 2 adults registered and are looking at travel options to get us there and back. We have already partnered with 4 members of Hope Lutheran in Atascadero who will travel and stay with us in Detroit, and are talking with groups from Solvang, Ventura, and Camarillo. What a great way to link together all of our groups! Ingrid and Monica will be traveling to Detroit at the end of January for the national ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s Extravaganza. As members of the Hospitality team, Ingrid and Monica have been working for over a month already to help welcome over 800 youth pastors and ministers from around the country who will be attending the “E” to network, share resources, and prepare for the summer event. Rise Up! Fact of the Month: As of the summer of 2013, the city of Detroit owed money to more than 100,000 creditors, and was facing $20 billion in debt and unfunded liabilities. That breaks down to more than $25,000 per resident. To make this fact even more astonishing: Back in 1960, the city of Detroit actually had the highest per-capita income in the entire nation! In 1950, there were about 296,000 manufacturing jobs in Detroit. Today, there are fewer than 27,000. Between December 2000 and December 2010, 48 percent of the manufacturing jobs in the state of Michigan were lost. January 2015 10 Volunteer Schedule Acolytes and Date Time 8:45 Jan. 4 11:00 8:45 Jan. 11 11:00 8:45 Jan. 18 11:00 8:45 Jan. 25 11:00 8:45 Feb. 1 11:00 8:45 Feb. 8 11:00 Coffee Servers Communion Greeters Sound Lector Assis ng COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: Ingrid Frokjer Carol Harvey Diane Mansell Pat Forrest 544‐2133 481‐2418 481‐4053 541‐4799 Jack & Peggy Stevens Volunteer Needed Ariana Holman Jenni Kinsey Sally Reck Diane Mansell Pat Forrest Sarah Kinsey Jenni Kinsey Sarah Kinsey Pa & Marc Frey Karen Petersen Ka e Moersdorf Mike & Val Lund Sheryl Huffaker Len & Diane Mansell Fiona Huffaker Ka e Moersdorf Fiona Huffaker Libby Benne Bob & Mary Christenson Ro Cannon‐Miller Ma hew Babcock Carlyn & Lily Hinds Sherri Parkinson Sue Cummings Ma hew Babcock Makenna Parkinson Makenna Parkinson Olivia Dong Jack & Roberta Moen Greg Zocher Judy Burroughs Diane Mansell Monica Holman Monica Holman Janis Sexton Wayne Lippold Greg Zocher Paula Jaster Dick Eschenbach Jeanie Ledford Paula Jaster Judy Burroughs Callie Bobell Nancy Cook Sarah Pihl Callie Bobell Sarah Pihl Ariana Holman Jenni Kinsey Dorothy Mc Coid Sarah Kinsey Jenni Kinsey Sarah Kinsey Ka e Moersdorf Sheryl Huffaker Fiona Huffaker Ka e Moersdorf Fiona Huffaker Usher List 8:45 11:00 1st Sunday Jess & Pat Bathke Steve & JoAnn Bennett Len & Diane Mansell Bill & Karen Almas 2nd Sunday Ed Dresp Marc Frey Bob Dwight Volunteer Needed 3rd Sunday Russ Anderson Glen Priddy Burke Towle, Jr. Volunteer Needed 4th Sunday Warren Quist Vern Brody Jack & Roberta Moen Bob & Carol Grosse Jeanie Schultz Linda Schultze Mike & Val Lund Dorothy McCoid Volunteer Needed Donley & Carol Winger Pat Forrest Andy Frokjer Jan. 4 Jan. 11 Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 1 Altar Guild Jeanie Schultz Vickie Tway Maureen Dresp Pat Forrest Dorothy McCoid Children’s Church 8:45 Ingrid Frokjer Cheryl Garnsey Ingrid Frokjer Mike Dresp 11:00 Jackie Kinsey Ingrid Frokjer Erin Malone Ingrid Frokjer Friday Morning Volunteers Pat Forrest Dorothy McCoid Carol Grosse Mary Christenson Carol Winger Maureen Dresp December 19 December 26 January 2 January 9 January 16 January 23 January 30 February 6 February 13 February 20 February 27 March 6 January 2015 11 January 2015 Sunday Monday Dec. 28, 2014 Dec. 29, 2014 Tuesday Dec. 30, 2014 Wednesday Dec. 31, 2014 7:30pm – NA Lessons & Carols 8:45 am – Traditional Worship Thursday 2 3 New Year’s Day 8am -Garden Club Office Closed 9am - Lutheran Chicks 8am – Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study 11am - Peoples Kitchen 6 7 8:45 am – Traditional Worship 6:30pm – LCM Team Meeting 9:00am – Staff Meeting 10am – Sunday School/Adult Forum 7:30pm – NA 10am – Quilters 9am - Lutheran Chicks 5:30pm – Praise Band Rehearsal 10:30am – Bible Study 5 11am - Contemporary Worship 11 8 14 8:45 am – Traditional Worship 5:30pm – Executive Team meeting 9:00am – Staff Meeting 10am – Sunday School/Adult Forum 7:30pm – NA 5:30pm – Praise Band Rehearsal 12 15 8am – Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study 17 8am – Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study 8am - Garden Club 9am - Lutheran Chicks 10:30am – Bible Study 12pm – Brown Bag Lunch Group 12:15pm – CAT Team meeting 25 16 Deadline for February “Summit” 6pm – Stephen Ministry 12:15pm – LCM BBQ 10am – Sunday School/Adult Forum 11am - Contemporary Worship 10 8am - Garden Club 6pm – LCM Dinner & Bible Study 11am - Contemporary Worship 8:45 am – Traditional Worship 9 6p – LCM Dinner & Bible Study 13 18 Saturday 1 11am - Contemporary Worship 4 Friday 19 20 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 7:30pm – NA Office Closed 22 23 24 9:00am – Staff Meeting 8am - Garden Club 5:30pm – Praise Band Rehearsal 9am - Lutheran Chicks 8am – Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study 6pm – LCM Dinner & Bible Study 10:30am – Bible Study 7pm – Church Council meeting 26 27 28 8:45 am – Traditional Worship 9:30am – Assistance League meeting 9:00am – Staff Meeting 10am – Sunday School/Adult Forum 2pm – RAMs 5:30pm – Praise Band Rehearsal 7:30pm – NA 11am - Contemporary Worship 5:30pm – Financial Management Team meeting 4pm – ICH Board meeting 6pm – LCM Dinner & Bible Study 29 30 31 8am - Garden Club 9am - Lutheran Chicks 10:30am – Bible Study 8am – Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study January 2015 1701 Fredericks St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Phone: 805-544-2133 Fax: 805-544-5356 Email: [email protected] ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Gather, Grow, Go Southwest California Synod/Mt. Carmel The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop The Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, Bishop, Southwest California Synod
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