Central Lutheran Church, in the heart of the city, welcomes all people to celebrate, discover and share the love of Christ.
Lectures & Workshops
May 18, 2008 9:45 am to 10:45 am
Congregations Caring for Creation. Join in a conversation with Sean Gosiewski of the Alliance for Sustainability, about "Congregations Caring for Creation" (C3). The mission of "C3" is to promote the active care of creation as integral to spiritual life and social justice in Minnesota communities of faith. The organization helps educate congregations on the theological basis for eco-stewardship, and assists them in implementing environmental stewardship programs. Every major spiritual tradition calls on us to be faithful stewards of Creation. In August 1993 the 3rd ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted the social statement, "Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice: Christian concern for the environment is shaped by the Word of God spoken in creation, the Love of God hanging on a cross, the Breath of God daily renewing the face of the earth. We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are deeply concerned about the environment, locally and globally, as members of this church and as members of society. Even as we join the political, economic, and scientific discussion, we know care for the earth to be a profoundly spiritual matter." Come and learn what you can do to be better stewards of the environment, and how Central can form a "Creation Care Team" to make caring for creation integral to the identity and mission of our church.
May 18, 2008 9:45 am to 10:45 am
The Church in Madagascar: Sacrifice and Service. Hear Dr. Morris Vaagenes discuss the tremendous advances in the Lutheran Church in Madagascar and lessons we may gain from this vibrant church. He will share significant challenges and opportunities facing the three synods that comprise our former American Lutheran mission fields. Pastor Vaagenes grew up in Madagascar, the son of missionary parents. He and his wife Bonnie served as missionaries also. He was senior pastor at North Heights Lutheran Church in Roseville and Arden Hills, MN for more than 38 years. He has visited Madagascar in recent years and is engaged in promoting support for education and evangelical outreach in the Lutheran Church in Madagascar.
May 18, 2008 12:15 pm to 2:00 pm
"How We Can Accompany Returning Veterans and Their Families". Hardly a day goes by without more bad news about how our veterans are faring in the civilian community. Over 6,000 veterans committed suicide last year. The Pentagon reported that half of the National Guard members show significant psychological problems months after their return from the current war zones. The presentation will review how veterans have fared after past wars, and explore what is impacting our veterans today. Amy Blumenshine delivers a "call to action" to churches to play their special role in the all-important transition period at home after war. Any individual sent to war by their nation should not have to bear alone the resulting moral and spiritual pain. Amy Blumenshine, MSW, (UC/Berkeley) is a candidate for diaconal ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Ministry with veterans and their families is her specialty. She convened the Coming Home Collaborative in July of 2005 to engage faith communities and health professionals in reducing the secondary trauma veterans and their families often experience, and helping them heal from the invisible wounds of war. The Coming Home Collaborative assisted in presenting the January 2007 Ministerium--Healing the Wounds of War--in which Lutheran pastors from both the Minneapolis and St. Paul area synods were trained. The Coming Home Collaborative makes specific recommendations regarding how congregations can make a difference. Amy has published on this topic in the InterLutheran Journal of Pastoral Care, and is completing a guide for churches with the Welcome Home initiative based in Duluth. She and her family also served for two years as ELCA lay missionaries in Nicaragua. She taught crisis intervention for a decade for Metropolitan State University (St. Paul, MN) and has served in a number of crisis intervention settings. Lunch available ($7.00). Validated parking is available in the Central parking lot/ramp on the south side of the church. This Twin Cities Peace with Justice Forum Series is sponsored by the ELCA Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods Peace with Justice Committee. For more information on this series call the church office.
June 8, 2008 10:45 am to 11:45 am
Jim Klobuchar: "Sixty Minutes with God". Join newspaper columnist, traveler and author Jim Klobuchar for a discussion of his latest book, "Sixty Minutes With God." The book has been described by a pastor who read it as "the mother of all interviews." It's obviously an imaginary one but still provocative for those who struggle with faith. To these can be added the millions who have a lively skepticism about some of the dogma they are asked to accept, but want and try to believe nonetheless. For those who don't believe at all, on the other hand, there might be some fugitive value in eavesdropping on the the recurrent dilemmas and whimsies of the dogged pilgrim who wrote this book.
June 22, 2008 10:45 am to 11:45 am
Liz Decker & friends. Join Central's own violinist Liz Decker in the sanctuary with her students Sarah and David Coltz, for an after-worship workshop on their passion for music. They'll play a little for you, talk about their music, and share their experiences in learning and performing with this versatile instrument. Get your coffee, bring your questions!