For the Son of Man came to seek out and save the lost. - Luke 19:10

During worship in the month of January, we will be exploring the parables about ‘lost things’ found in Luke chapter 15 with an emphasis on the story traditionally referred to as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Inspired by the book “The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith” by pastor Timothy Keller, we will be exploring the deep truths for our faith and insights for ministry in our complex times to be found in this parable. For three Sundays in worship (January 13, 20, & 27) and an optional 6 week small group study (Wednesdays, January 9

th – February 13

th), we will dwell

in the invitation and challenge of this familiar but seldom comprehended parable of Jesus.

Within this story, the two sons look very different, on the surface. The younger son demands his inheritance and runs off to live a reckless and dissolute life. The older son stays home and obeys and serves his father. Yet at the end, the older son is furious at his father and refuses to go into the great feast celebrating the brother’s homecoming. The extravagant recklessness of the younger son has drawn the title of ‘prodigal,’ but it is the prodigal nature of the father that is the true promise in this parable. The Oxford dictionary defines ‘prodigal’ as, “spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.” At the heart of the parable is the father’s extravagant forgiveness, reckless welcome, and suffering love in response to the humiliating defiance of both his ‘lost’ sons.

Jesus makes it clear in the Gospel of Luke that his job description includes pursuing those who are lost in order to bring them healing and reconciliation with God. This is very good news for us! It may not sound like good news, however, unless we are willing to admit that we ourselves are included in the category of “the lost.” Whether we identify more with the older or the younger brother, we are all lost without our prodigal God who has come in Jesus Christ to seek and save us.

May you know the love of this prodigal God who spared no expense in freely pouring out costly grace for you and me and the whole world through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In Christ, Pastor Chris Steubing

Cross & Cradle Newsletter January 2019

Christ the Servant Lutheran Church 3676 Centerville Road

Vadnais Heights, MN 55127 651-429-6595

office@cslcvh.org www.cslcvh.org

Church Events

Jan. 3rd Take down Christmas — 6:30pm

—Volunteers welcome to assist!

Jan. 6th Budget Presentation

10:00am (Following Worship)

Jan. 20th Congregation Annual Meeting

10:00am (Following Worship) Jan. 23rd—Confirmation Class

Servant Event—

Feed My Starving Children

Jan. 26th Red Cross Blood Drive

9:00am — 3:00pm

“The Prodigal God”

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6 Week Study Series January 9th – February 13th Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. $10.00 for discussion guide Please sign up online or in the church office to

indicate which time you would like to attend and

reserve your discussion guide copy. There will also

be copies of Tim Keller’s book “The Prodigal God:

Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith” available

for optional purchase.

If you would be willing to host a small group in your

home to participate in this study, please let Pastor

Chris know and he will coordinate the purchase of

materials and signing up participants.

ANNUAL REPORT Committee Reports deadline for the Annual Report due by Sunday, January 6th to Sandy in the Church office.

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING JANUARY 20, 2019

10:00AM The 2019 Annual Meeting of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church of Vadnais Heights will be held on Sunday, January 20, 2019, at 10:00 AM, or immediately following worship. Location of the meeting will be in the fellowship hall.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTS We wish to thank you for your donations of socks and underwear given as part of our Advent Festival in December donated to the White Bear School District Closet—a place where students and families can come and pick out needed clothing. Donations: 280 pairs of socks, 166 pairs of underwear and 4 slipper socks.

“Season of Epiphany” Epiphany, on the 12th day of Christmas, falls on January 6 and marks the official end to the festive season of Christmas for many Christians. However, we are encouraged to continue to seek Christ. The ancient Christian feast day (January 6th) is significant as a celebration of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. It also marks a visit to the baby Jesus by three Kings or Wise Men. The word “Epiphany” comes from Greek and means to show, referring to Jesus, being revealed to the world. Let us continue to send the message of Christ’s birth!

PASSIONATE WORSHIP

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CARING FRIENDS

MINISTRY

On December 13, 2018, the Caring Friends group with Pastor Chris, visited six of our seven Caring Friends. They started with breakfast and then broke into two groups. Each group had Pastor Chris and his guitar for part of

their visits. They all agreed that they were blessed to be in this ministry. Seeing smiles on so many faces was so special as they sang and the visit was huge. No meeting is scheduled for January. Watch for further updates. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, contact Debbie Erickson for information.

CRAFT/PROJECT DAY SATURDAY, JANUARY 19TH, 9:00AM TO 9:00PM Come join us for a fun day of crafting, sewing, scrapbooking, card-making, or whatever else you want to do. Bring your own lunch and perhaps a snack to share. Come anytime and stay as long as you wish. ALL are welcome! Invite your friends, neighbors, family members. Contact: Leila Horazdovsky.

2ndTuesday Lunch for Seniors

Jan. 8 Christ the Servant Lutheran Church

Join your neighbors and friends for a senior lunch on the Second Tuesday in January, February and March. Cost

$5.00. Go to City Hall to get your tickets! Call 651-204-6000 for questions. Deadline for January lunch is January 3rd!! Lunch is served at noon from Donatelli’s and bingo will follow. Sponsored by the City of Vadnais Heights Parks & Rec. Department

Next Class January 3—February 21

8 weeks — $64 Checks to YogaDevotion

Signup on bulletin board or on their website:

https://yogadevotion.com/class/christ-the-servant-seated-in-the-presence-3/2019-01-03/

RADICAL HOSPITALITY EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY

Tom Farm - Roger Gullickson - Lois McKeag

Sandy Meyer - Mike Woehrle

Questions or Concerns

All amounts are through November.

To date, we have received back 50 promise

cards for a committed total of $142,140.00 for

regular giving. Our goal for 2019 is $186,000.00.

Thank you for your generous commitments for

2019. If you have not turned in your cards please

do so as it is so essential for planning the budget

for 2019.

Faith Promise Cards

Thank You, to the five practice teams for such

outstanding temple talks, and sharing your Big

Dreams for Christ The Servant.

Also thank you, to everyone that provided a

dish to share for the Sunday brunch and to Pam

Radziszewski for again baking us such an

incredible cake.

Our Big Dreams Campaign

Currently, we are the planning the budget for 2019.

Our goal is to have a proposed budget at a

meeting on January 6th during the fellowship

time ahead of the annual meeting. This will

allow time for any questions or concerns before the

January 20th annual meeting.

What We Are Doing?

Financial Up-Date YTD Budgeted Regular Giving …..… $151,250

YTD Actual Regular Giving ……...… $150,241

Attendance YTD Average Weekly Attendance (2017)….. 97

YTD Average Weekly Attendance (2018)…. 103

So far this year Christ the Servant through you has

given a total of $10,258.00 to these organizations:

St. Paul Area Synod ….…….…….… $6,150

Huruma …………...……….…....….. $1,036

Food Shelf …………....….….....….... $1,141

Charities …………….…..……..…… $1,931

God is at work in our church!

Extravagant Generosity

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CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE Thank you for your donations to our 2018 Giving Tree! We were able to help 10 families / 45 individuals this year. An estimation of the total value of our gifts is $1600. We are blessed to be a blessing.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES Baylee Hamilton (with Risk Taking Mission & Service) will be hosting our next Blood Drive.

Saturday, January 26 9 AM to 3 PM

Signup sheet is available at the church or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Christ the Servant. We also have a Blood Drive scheduled for Friday, March 29, 2019! That signup is also ready for scheduling

HURUMA CENTRE COFFEE OFFERINGS On the third Sunday of every month our coffee hour donations go to Friends of Huruma, an affiliate of Bega Kwa Bega, to help support a safe and nurturing home and education for the children of the Huruma Centre. In December, you gave $41, bringing our total donations for 2018 to $469.10. Special donations in 2018 were $489.74, with a total of 882.84. FREE BREAD DISTRIBUTION

Every Tuesday from 9 AM until 6 PM (or until bread is gone), we sponsor a free bread distribution for the community. The church and other community members help by picking up the bread, setting the bread out on tables, providing bags and gloves and friendly smiling faces! All are invited to join the group for coffee ‘round the table about 8:30.

FOOD SHELVES We collect food items for the Vadnais Heights Food Shelf, which distributes bags of groceries on the third Saturday of every month from 9 AM to 10 AM. The Vadnais Heights Food Shelf is located at 655 East County Road F at the north end of the Vadnais Heights Commons with its access gate on Clover Avenue. White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf provides food and support to neighbors who live within or attend the White Bear Area School District and self-identify a need for food. Contact the food shelf at 651-407-5310. Thank you for your donations for the Baking Bags. We delivered 4 Holiday Baking Bags to the White Bear Food

Shelf.

PRAYER SHAWL & PRAYER SQUARE MINISTRY We need knitted and/or crocheted prayer shawls. Our basket is almost empty! Directions are on the bulletin board or come up with your own pattern.

Directions have been added to our website. See Linda Wigdahl or Lois McKeag for more information.

RISK TAKING MISSION & SERVICE

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CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY

SUNDAY SCHOOL AGE 3 THROUGH

5TH GRADE

LESSON SERIES IN JANUARY

CONFIRMATION (6TH — 9TH GRADE)

Jan. 2 6:30--8:00pm--Apostles Creed —God the Creator Jan. 9 6:30--8:00pm--Apostles Creed —God the Provider Jan. 16 6:30--8:00pm--Apostles Creed —God the Preserver Jan. 23 5:15 pm--Service Event

Note Time Change Meet at the church

Jan. 30 6:30--8:00pm--Apostles Creed —Jesus the Savior

YOUTH — SUMMER TRIPS

6TH — 12TH GRADE Planning underway for the Youth Mission Trip and Summer Bible Camp opportunities. Watch for further details in the weeks ahead!!

Winter/Spring Women’s Bible Study

All are welcome at the “Dance, Stand, Run” learning and

fellowship series! Join us from 9:00-11:00am every other Saturday beginning January 5th. Gathering Dates: January 5 & 19 February 2 & 16 March 2, 16 & 30 April 13 & 27

Materials: Participants can order Jess Connolly’s book and study guide on Amazon for about $22 (cheaper if you prefer an e-copy or Kindle version). For more information, please contact Jodie or Amy.

INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT

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U S H E R S: January 6: January 13: Glen & Dianne Johnson January 20: January 27:

READERS: January 6: Sandy Hammerlind January 13: Ron Hawkinson January 20: Linda Wigdahl January 27: Peter Songster

COMMUNION SERVERS: January 6: Bread: Pastor Chris Wine: Basket: January 20: Bread: Pastor Chris Wine: Peter Songster Basket:

SOUND/VIDEO: January 6: Marge & Tom Prokosch January 13: Tom Farm January 20: Steve Horazdovsky January 27: Tom Farm

COFFEE SERVERS: January 6: Helena Chamblin, Sandy L. Johnson January 13: Nancy Sacco, Katie Wright January 20: Shirley & Steve Tigges January 27: Jacquelyn & Tom Farm

BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH Jan 1 Dan Hamilton Jan 19 Carol Woodward Jan 4 Allen VanDerWerff Jan 22 Vinnie Berger Jan 5 Brian Johnson Jan 22 Chris Wallrich Jan 5 Yvonne Mulry Jan 22 Karen Wallrich Jan 7 Rick Gittins Jan 25 Joshua Moore Jan 10 Kelly Olson Jan 25 Chelsea Rykel Jan 12 Rhonda Klein Jan 26 Baylee Hamilton Jan 12 Rita Seger Jan 27 Shari Celmins Jan 14 Pamela Irgens Jan 27 Laura Holtz Jan 15 Susan Rensted Jan 28 Chris Steubing Jan 17 Katherine Woehrle Jan 29 Mia Padjen Jan 19 Linda Splittstoesser Jan 31 Stanleigh Barbie

We extend prayers for God’s Blessing

on your Birthday!!

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES THIS MONTH January 4 -- Jerry & Marilyn Auge

We extend prayers for God’s Blessing

as you celebrate your

Wedding Anniversary!

CELEBRATING MILESTONES

If we have missed your milestone or have incorrect information, please contact the

church office at (651) 429-6595 or office@cslcvh.org

SERVING SUNDAYS IN JANUARY

We welcome your participation. Please check the “Passionate Worship”

bulletin board monthly and note your interest in serving!

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January 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

30 First Sunday of

Christmas 9:00AM Worship 10:15AM Fellowship Time (No Sunday School) 10:30AM Youth Mission Trip and Camp Planning Meeting (sanctuary)

31

January 1

Happy New Year!!

7:30PM

AA Meeting

2

10:00AM Bible Studies 6:30PM Confirmation Class 6:30PM Take Down Christmas

3

3:45PM Yoga Devotion/

Chair 6:30PM

C.C. Executive Committee

4

5 8:30 AM

Men’s Breakfast & Discussion

9:00 AM Women’s Bible

Study 3:00 PM

Mason’s Family Gathering

6 Epiphany of our Lord

9:00AM Worship/ Communion 10:15AM Fellowship Time 10:15AM Proposed Budget Review 10:15AM Sunday School

7

3:30PM Piecemakers

8 9:00AM--6:00 Free Bread 12:00PM

VH Lunch for Seniors & Bingo

6:30PM Worship Team

7:30PM AA Meeting

9 10:00AM Bible Studies 12:-00PM VH Senior Hi-Lites 6:30PM Confirmation Class 6:30PM Bible Study

10

Yoga Devotion/ Chair

6:45PM Council Forum

7:00PM Church Council

11 12

13 Baptism of our Lord First Sunday after

Epiphany 9:00AM Worship 10:15AM Fellowship Time 10:15AM Sunday School

14

3:30PM Piecemakers

15 9:00AM--6:00 Free Bread Distribution

5:30PM Mission & Service

Meeting 6:30PM Lake

Country Chorus 7:30PM

AA Meeting

16

10:00AM Bible Studies 6:30PM Confirmation Class 6:30PM Bible Study

17

3:45PM Yoga Devotion/

Chair .

18

19

9:00 AM

Craft & Project Day

9:00 AM Women’s Bible

Study

20 Second Sunday after

Epiphany 9:00AM Worship/ Communion 10:00AM Congregation Annual Meeting Fellowship Time 10:15AM Sunday School

21 3:30PM

Piecemakers

22

9:00AM--6:00 Free Bread Distribution

6:00PM Vadnais Lake Townhomes

7:30PM AA Meeting

23 10:00AM Bible Studies 12:00PM VH Senior Hi-Lites 5:15 PM Confirmation Class—Servant Event 6:30PM Bible Study

24

3:45PM Yoga Devotion/

Chair

25

26

9:00 AM Red Cross

Blood Drive to 3:00pm

27 Third Sunday after

Epiphany 9:00AM Worship 10:15AM Fellowship Time 10:15AM Sunday School

28

3:30PM Piecemakers

29

9:00AM--6:00 Free Bread Distribution

7:30PM AA Meeting

30

10:00AM Bible Studies 6:30PM Confirmation Class 6:30PM Bible Study

31

3:45PM Yoga Devotion/

Chair

February 1

2 8:30 AM

Men’s Breakfast & Discussion

9:00 AM Women’s Bible

Study

Christ the Servant Lutheran Church 3676 Centerville Road Vadnais Heights, MN 55127

JOIN US SUNDAY MORNINGS — 9:00AM

EDUCATION HOUR — 10:15AM

www.cslcvh.org Pastor: Chris Steubing pastorchris@cslcvh.org

Ministry Coordinator: Sandy Hammerlind Church Office (651) 429-6595

office@cslcvh.org